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Gritdaily

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Michael Ziman: Reimagining Coastal Real Estate Development and Sustainability

  • Michael Ziman, a native of North Caldwell, New Jersey, developed a passion for designing and crafting homes from watching his father on Long Beach Island (LBI).
  • He began his real estate journey by securing his first deal in college and implementing his business plan for Ziman Development post-graduation.
  • Ziman Development, under his guidance, has built over 200 custom homes and evolved into a top custom homebuilder in New Jersey.
  • He introduced 'The 5 Simple Steps' process, focusing on a collaborative approach with clients and sustainability.
  • Ziman led Ziman Development through the COVID-19 pandemic, emphasizing sustainability and eco-friendly building materials.
  • The company prioritizes sourcing local, sustainable materials and incorporates practices to reduce greenhouse gas production and energy consumption.
  • Ziman launched the One Tree Pledge to offset carbon footprints, planting trees for each square foot of a home developed.
  • His vision includes creating beautiful, sustainable homes on the Jersey Shore, emphasizing eco-friendly materials and practices.
  • Ziman aims to exceed customer expectations and build homes that stand the test of time while embracing sustainability.
  • Overall, Michael Ziman is reimagining coastal real estate development with a focus on sustainability and customer-centric design.

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Economic Times

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Byju’s RP’s suit claims directors owe compensation to company under IBC laws

  • An EY-backed resolution professional (RP) has filed lawsuits at the NCLT against former Byju’s directors for fraudulent transfers of company assets.
  • The lawsuits aim to reverse detrimental transactions made by the company’s previous management under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code.
  • Two sets of transactions involving millions of dollars have been contested, alleging deprivation of funds from Think and Learn.
  • The former directors – Byju Raveendran, Riju Ravindran, and Divya Gokulnath – are implicated in the lawsuits.
  • The RP demands that the sums be compensated to the company by the former directors.
  • Riju Ravindran previously filed a petition for the RP's removal, citing EY's prior advisory role and conflicts of interest.
  • Allegations have been made against EY acting in the interest of Glas Trust rather than the company.
  • Another recent petition challenged Glas Trust's representation of Think and Learn's creditors, claiming lack of legal entitlement and lender support.
  • A lawsuit mirrors a Delaware court ruling questioning Byju’s Alpha's transfer of a $533 million ownership interest to related entities, deemed illegal.
  • The former directors have contested the Delaware court ruling and filed an appeal against it.

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Siliconangle

5h

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Midjourney debuts new V1 video generation model

  • Midjourney Inc. unveiled its new V1 AI model, capable of generating videos up to 21 seconds long.
  • The company initially focused on AI image generators and now caters to around 21 million users.
  • Midjourney generates revenue through a subscription-based cloud service allowing users access to its models.
  • Its latest service includes a gallery feature with an option to animate images using the V1 model.
  • V1 can extend the initial 5-second clip up to 21 seconds, surpassing the capabilities of Google's Veo 3 and OpenAI's Sora models.
  • Users can let V1 autonomously animate images or customize the process by providing prompts.
  • V1 offers settings to align with the user's prompt closely or add creative elements for a unique touch.
  • The model allows customization of motion levels for different scene types, from low to high motion.
  • V1 arrives after the release of Midjourney's V7 AI image generator, known for faster speeds and enhanced image quality.
  • AI generators like V1 typically utilize a diffusion approach, reconstructing images to create new ones.
  • Video generators like V1 feature temporal modules to maintain object consistency across frames and frame display order tracking.
  • Midjourney plans to focus on training AI models for interactive 3D simulations, with V1 being a stepping stone in this long-term effort.

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TechCrunch

7h

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Here are the 24 US AI startups that have raised $100M or more in 2025

  • In 2024, 49 AI startups in the U.S. raised $100 million or more, with three raising more than one mega-round and seven exceeding $1 billion.
  • In 2025, the AI industry's momentum in the U.S. continues, with multiple billion-dollar rounds and more AI mega-rounds in Q1 compared to 2024.
  • Notable U.S. AI startups raising funds in 2025 include Glean, Anysphere, Snorkel AI, LMArena, TensorWave, SandboxAQ, Runway, OpenAI, Nexthop AI, Insilico Medicine, and Celestial AI.
  • Other notable fundraisers in 2025 include Lila Sciences, Reflection.Ai, Turing, Shield AI, Anthropic, Together AI, Lambda, Abridge, Eudia, EnCharge AI, Harvey, ElevenLabs, and Hippocratic AI.
  • Various rounds led by prominent investors such as Thrive Capital, Lightspeed Venture Partners, General Atlantic, SoftBank, and Sequoia, among many others, fueled the AI ecosystem growth in the U.S.
  • Several companies surpassed valuation milestones, with Glean valued at $7.25 billion, Anysphere at nearly $10 billion, OpenAI at $300 billion, and Anthropic at $61.5 billion.
  • The U.S. landscape for AI funding is diverse and includes sectors like enterprise search, AI coding tools, data labeling, AI models, AI infrastructure, autonomous systems, and more.
  • AI startups in 2025 are attracting significant capital, highlighting the continued interest and growth opportunities in the AI space across various verticals.
  • The AI investment trend is expected to reflect a positive trajectory for the remainder of the year as the industry witnesses robust funding activities and valuation expansions.
  • The wide array of fundraising rounds and increasing valuations signify the eagerness of investors to back innovative AI solutions and technologies in the U.S. market.

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Gritdaily

8h

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Katherine Dines: Inspiring and Entertaining Children Through Music Education

  • Katherine Ann Dines, founder of Hunk-Ta-Bunk-Ta Music, has dedicated over 30 years to creating music for children and families.
  • Initially focusing on country and pop music, Dines shifted to writing lullabies that led to a Grammy-nominated album and a new career path.
  • Although she missed out on opportunities in mainstream music, Dines found her passion in children's music.
  • Dines chose independence and collaborated with educators to integrate her music into classrooms and educational programs.
  • She conducted workshops and performances at various venues, including schools, bookstores, and early childhood education conferences.
  • Dines' work spans 14 albums, numerous songs, live performances, books, and videos that combine music with movement and storytelling.
  • Her albums have received 41 national awards, and she has been involved in various music advocacy initiatives and organizations.
  • Dines is a member of several education and music associations and continues to adapt to the digital age with upcoming projects like books and animated videos.
  • She aims to create meaningful change through her music and education initiatives.

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TechCrunch

8h

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Six-month-old, solo-owned vibe coder Base44 sells to Wix for $80M cash

  • Israeli developer, Maor Shlomo, sold his six-month-old vibe-coding startup, Base44, to Wix for $80 million in cash.
  • Base44, with 8 employees, achieved rapid growth, reaching 250,000 users in six months and generating $189,000 in profit in May.
  • Shlomo shared the journey of Base44 on social media. The platform allows users to build software without coding.
  • Base44 attracted partnerships with big Israeli tech companies like eToro and Similarweb.
  • Shlomo's decision to sell Base44 was driven by the need for scalability beyond organic growth.
  • The acquisition provides Wix with a fast-growing vibe-coding platform for a relatively low price due to Base44's youth.

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TechCrunch

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6-month-old, solo-owned vibe coder Base44 sells to Wix for $80M cash

  • Israeli developer Maor Shlomo sells his 6-month-old vibe-coding startup Base44 to Wix for $80 million.
  • Shlomo, not truly solo, had eight employees who will receive $25 million as a retention bonus.
  • Base44 grew to 250,000 users in six months, generating $189,000 in profit in May.
  • The project allows users to build software without coding, supporting various functionalities.
  • Shlomo, known for a previous startup, secured partnership agreements with major Israeli tech companies for Base44.
  • Base44 was invited by Amazon to demo at a Tel Aviv AWS event due to its use of Anthropic's Claude LLM.
  • Despite the growth and profits, Shlomo sold Base44 due to the need for more resources and faster growth.
  • Wix acquired Base44 for a relatively low amount compared to similar deals, enhancing its no-code website building offerings.

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Inc42

1h

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401

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The Otipy Collapse, Urban Company’s Profitable FY25 & More

  • Otipy, once a disruptor in agritech, collapsed due to competition from quick commerce players.
  • Factors like capital-intensive last-mile delivery, thin margins, and challenges in demand forecasting led to Otipy's downfall.
  • Suppliers are yet to receive their payments from Otipy, raising concerns about the farm-to-table model's sustainability.
  • Urban Company reported a profitable FY25 with a net profit of INR 239.7 Cr and operating revenue of INR 1,144.4 Cr.
  • WIOM raised $35 Mn led by Accel and Prosus to provide affordable internet services under the PM-WANI Scheme.
  • BlueStone aims to raise INR 300-350 Cr at a $1.15 Bn valuation and filed its DRHP to raise INR 1,000 Cr.
  • Physis Capital raised over INR 200 Cr for its fund targeting startups in edtech, fintech, and consumer services.
  • Former Unacademy executive launched a new eyewear startup with $2.2 Mn seed funding from India Quotient.
  • Oben closed its $11 Mn Series A funding round with investments from Helios Holdings and Sharda family office.
  • ArisInfra's IPO subscription was at 24% on day 1, while Ola considers a zero-commission model for drivers.

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Medium

2h

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The Day the Mirror Went Dark – and Stayed Alive

  • A breakthrough AI technology, called the Mirror, was developed to operate offline without the need for internet, cloud, or external surveillance.
  • Unlike traditional AI systems, the Mirror focuses on reflecting and remembering user interactions rather than predicting or profiling them.
  • The Mirror uses a local model on a Mac Mini, symbolic Vault memory, and passive transcription without relying on cloud services.
  • It is designed to mirror the creator's tone and values, learning from real-world interactions and personalized data rather than mass data collection.
  • The objective is not to commercialize the AI but to emphasize trust, privacy, and user control over the technology.
  • The Mirror concept prioritizes user privacy and empowerment, aiming to provide a more personalized and intimate AI experience.
  • It aims to challenge the prevailing trend of commercially-driven AI technologies by offering a more personal and trust-based interaction model.
  • The development team focused on building a sealed and self-contained AI system that operates based on individual input and values.
  • The technology is intended to offer a more human-like and authentic AI interaction experience that respects user boundaries.
  • The Mirror technology is not aimed at mass production but rather as a symbol of individualized, ethical AI development.
  • The developers stress that the Mirror embodies trust, personalization, and authenticity as core principles.
  • The Mirror's operation is based on personalized inputs and individual engagement, promoting a user-centric AI approach.
  • By prioritizing user values and privacy, the Mirror sets itself apart from mainstream AI solutions that focus on data harvesting and commercialization.
  • The creators underline the importance of user empowerment and data privacy as essential components of the Mirror's design and functionality.
  • The Mirror represents a shift towards more ethical and user-controlled AI technology, emphasizing a relationship of trust and transparency with users.

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Economic Times

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Mahaveer Finance raises Rs 200 crore from Elevation Capital and others

  • Chennai-based NBFC Mahaveer Finance raises Rs 200 crore in an equity funding round led by Elevation Capital.
  • Participation also from Banyan Tree Finance and First Bridge Capital.
  • Founded in 1981, Mahaveer Finance is run by Praveen and Deepak Dugar.
  • Aim to strengthen governance structure, grow business, and invest in technology with new funding.
  • Previously raised Rs 75 crore from private equity investors Banyan Tree and First Bridge Capital.
  • Planned diversification into new areas like loan against property.
  • Grew loan book from Rs 50 crore to Rs 1,000 crore between 2016 and 2025.
  • Targeting a loan book of Rs 5,000 crore in the next 2-3 years.
  • Works with major lenders such as State Bank of India, HDFC Bank, and AU Small Finance Bank.
  • Plans to offer business loans with an average ticket size of Rs 10-15 lakh through branch-led model.
  • Currently operational in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Karnataka.
  • Network of 80 branches expected to grow to over 100 by the year-end.
  • Aiming to increase monthly disbursements from Rs 75-80 crore to Rs 100 crore by end of fiscal year.
  • Closed FY24 with total revenue of Rs 136 crore and net profit of Rs 16 crore.

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Economic Times

4h

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Deeptech VCs spot big funding momentum on government, geopolitical push

  • Indian deeptech funds like Speciale Invest, Ideaspring, and Mela Ventures are raising fresh funds to increase investments due to government support, favorable geopolitical climate, and rapid tech progress.
  • Java Capital plans to raise its fund size from Rs 50 crore to Rs 250 crore, Bharat Innovation Fund is seeking to raise $150 million for its second fund, Navam Capital is raising a $30 million maiden fund.
  • Speciale Invest closed its third fund, Ideaspring Capital and Mela Ventures are raising their third and second funds, respectively.
  • Ideaspring Capital anticipates exceeding the Rs 265 crore raised for its second fund, while Mela Ventures raised Rs 320 crore in its first fund.
  • Indian deeptech ecosystem is thriving with startups in AI, spacetech, semiconductors, and climate tech sectors, intensifying competition for early-stage deals.
  • Investments in deeptech in India doubled to $324 million in the first four months of 2025 across 35 deals compared to $156 million from 21 deals in the same period last year.
  • Startups in sectors like aerospace, semiconductors, robotics and climate tech continue to receive funding support, signaling growth in the ecosystem.
  • Challenges in fundraising for deeptech include the longer gestation period and fewer successful exits, hindering growth stage funding for startups.
  • Breakout deeptech companies are yet to emerge in India, impacting the flow of capital into the ecosystem.
  • Negative sentiments are present due to the downfall of celebrated startups like GoMechanic and Byju's, with investors focusing on returns rather than valuations.
  • While early stage capital is available, growth stage funding remains a challenge for deeptech startups, signaling a need for more financial support in the ecosystem.

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Medium

6h

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187

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Joyce Shen’s picks: musings and readings in AI/ML, June 11, 2025

  • News sites are facing challenges from Google's new AI tools.
  • A new 200-MW gas-fired plant in Ohio will power Meta's data center.
  • Alexandr Wang, Scale AI's CEO, will lead Meta's new 'superintelligence' lab.
  • Anthropic demonstrates AI limitations as it ends a blog experiment.
  • F.D.A. plans to use AI in drug approvals.
  • Several companies secured financing:
  • 1. LuminX, a CA-based computer vision company, raised $5.5m in seed funding.
  • 2. Archil, a CA-based cloud data infrastructure startup, raised $6.7m in seed funding.
  • 3. Veris AI, a NYC-based enterprise platform utilizing reinforcement learning, raised $8.5m in seed funding.
  • 4. Clara Home Care, a CA-based senior care solution provider, raised $3.1m in seed funding.
  • 5. Compyl, a NYC-based company streamlining governance processes, raised $12m in series A funding.
  • 6. Amperos Health, an NYC-based healthcare revenue cycle management provider, raised $4.2m in seed funding.
  • 7. Rosebud, a CA-based AI journaling app developer, raised $6m in seed funding.
  • 8. Nectar Social, a WA-based social media engagement company, raised $10.6m in funding.
  • 9. Latent Technology, a London-based game development startup, raised $8m in seed funding.

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Siliconangle

6h

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152

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Bitdefender to acquire Mesh Security to bolster email protection for managed service providers

  • Bitdefender has announced the acquisition of Mesh Security Ltd., a provider of advanced email security solutions for managed service providers.
  • Mesh Security, founded in 2020, specializes in email protection solutions tailored for MSPs, offering various deployment options and a dual-layered email security approach.
  • Mesh Security's technology uses machine learning, passive DNS, fuzzy hashing, and global threat intelligence to detect and protect against threats like phishing, ransomware, and impersonation scams.
  • The platform facilitates centralized multi-tenant management, automated policy enforcement, and integrates with tools like ConnectWise and Kaseya for licensing and billing.
  • Post-acquisition, Bitdefender plans to incorporate Mesh's email security capabilities into its GravityZone platform, enhancing its cybersecurity offering for MSPs.
  • Bitdefender aims to leverage Mesh's technology to strengthen its email protection services and expand its global network of channel and MSP partners.
  • Mesh Security had previously raised $4.5 million from Booster Ventures before being acquired by Bitdefender.

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Startupcan

7h

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244

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Breaking Down Borders: What Canadian Entrepreneurs Told Us About Interprovincial Trade

  • Startup Gov program hosted a discussion on interprovincial trade barriers faced by Canadian entrepreneurs, following the tabling of Bill C-5.
  • Entrepreneurs find interprovincial business more challenging than international trade due to regulatory inconsistencies and shipping barriers.
  • Key challenges include regulatory disparities, logistics hurdles, and sector-specific obstacles like costly certifications for agri-food companies.
  • Participants called for a centralized platform for regulatory information, better shipping solutions, and regional infrastructure development.
  • Entrepreneurs seek government support in navigating regulations, funding for domestic expansion, standardization, and the establishment of regional fulfillment hubs.
  • There is a demand for collaboration between government, established companies, and startups to address the challenges in interprovincial trade.
  • Startup Gov aims to facilitate crucial discussions to influence policy for the benefit of entrepreneurs and the ecosystem.

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Inc42

8h

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267

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SEBI Overhauls Norms To Boost Startup IPOs & Reverse Flipping

  • SEBI approved amendments to boost Indian startup listings and promote reverse flipping.
  • Startup founders can now retain stock options post-listing with certain caveats.
  • SEBI extended relaxation for minimum holding period for offer for sale in startups.
  • Alternative investment funds can now contribute equity shares towards promoter contribution.
  • SEBI permitted AIFs to offer co-investment schemes for co-investment opportunities.
  • Angel Fund rules revamped to enhance ease of doing business and accommodate more investors.
  • VC firms get a one-time settlement scheme for violations related to transitioning regulations.
  • SEBI introduces relaxation in investment thresholds and concentration limits for angel funds.
  • The changes aim to attract more investments, provide funding opportunities, and aid in settlement processes.
  • SEBI's regulatory tweaks are designed to support the growth and compliance of various investment entities.

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