Lava Payments, a fintech startup founded by Mitchell Jones to transform AI-driven transactions, has secured $5.8 million in seed funding. The round was led by Lerer Hippeau and supported by Harlem Capital, Streamlined Ventures, and Westbound. Lava is a digital wallet that lets merchants use usage credits to facilitate transactions, according to TechCrunch. Why Lava Exists Jones launched the startup after leaving his previous Y Combinator-backed fintech startup, Lendtable, where he began experimenting with AI. While building a basic form-filling agent, he continued to experience the same issues. “I was using
Steven Bartlett is using AI to create and host his latest podcast. The Diary of a CEO star has launched “100 CEOs with Steven Bartlett,” an animated documentary-style series hosted by Bartlett’s AI voice clone. The series features high-profile business figures like Richard Branson and Elon Musk. While Bartlett writes the initial scripts, the rest of the production is handled by AI, Business Insider reports. His company, FlightStory Studio, used tech from AI firms Runway, ElevenLabs, and Wondercraft. Creating hosts using AI The “100 CEOs” show doesn’t shy away from the fact
Howard alumni Lawrence Blackmon and Roger Roman are the founders of LegalEase, a justice‑tech startup helping people find their expungement eligibility and file court petitions within minutes. Their Expungement.ai platform provides users with a conversational experience to discover their expungement through voice, web chat, or SMS text. Helping people find jobs and housing In the US, nearly 8% of adults and around 33% of African American men have a felony conviction, according to a 2010 study by the University of Georgia School of Public and International Affairs. Additionally, a report by
Clay, an AI tool for sales representatives and marketers, has raised $100 million with a $3.1 billion valuation. CapitalG led the round with involvement from Meritech Capital Partners and Sequoia Capital, according to The New York Times. “This funding will helps us more deeply invest in our product and community, to whom we owe our deepest gratitude. Thank you to our partners, our team, and our customers,” Kareem Amin, Clay’s co-founder and chief executive, said in a LinkedIn post. About Clay Founded in 2017 by Kareem Amin and Nicolae Rusan,
SpreeAI, the fashion tech startup redefining virtual shopping experiences, has reached a $1.5 billion valuation after a recent funding round led by The Davidson Group. The AI-powered fashion app allows users to virtually allows users to try on clothes in an experience so lifelike it feels like you’re in a real dressing room. Designed for use both in-store and online, SpreeAI blends cutting-edge technology with real-world retail to transform how consumers shop and how brands sell. SpreeAI valued at $1.5 billion Co-founded and led by CEO John Imah, SpreeAI has
Browzwear, a digital apparel design software firm, has acquired Lalaland, an AI fashion model startup, to boost its AI capabilities and broaden Lalaland’s global reach. The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, WWD reports. “And it’s a WRAP. Absolutely surreal Lalaland has been acquired by Browzwear. It’s the end of a wild era and the start of an even bigger one,” Michael Musandu, Co-Founder and CEO of Lalaland, said in a LinkedIn post. Browzwear acquiring Lalaland. Amsterdam-based Lalaland aims to make fashion more inclusive by allowing retailers to
DeMarcus Edwards, a PhD graduate from Howard University, is the founder of an AI security startup, DARE Labs, which secured over $1 million in contracts last year. Edwards launched the company after being laid off from Google. The importance of mentorship Speaking to The Dig, Edwards highlights the growing number of computer scientists who studied at Howard. “People in the Valley have a lot of respect for Howard,” Edwards said. “I’d like that to be more well-known.” Edwards earned his master’s degree in computer science in 2020 and finished his Ph.D. program
Sports tech company, Ballin AI, just announced the close of a $500,000 angel round. The startup, founded by Division I athlete Nyla Pollard, analyzes players’ gameplay to help them improve their performance and increase their recruitment chances. After players upload their film, the footage is examined by a nationally recognized evaluator, who then scores it across various criteria, including defense, shooting, rebounding, scoring, transition, ball handling, and finishing. How does Ballin AI work? “We created Ballin because every athlete deserves the opportunity to have the information they need to develop
Vogue is receiving backlash for the use of an AI-generated model in its August issue. The double-page Guess advertisement, created by AI marketing agency Seraphinne Vallora, features a blonde model wearing two different outfits. Seraphinne Vallora specializes in “editorial-level AI-driven marketing campaigns and cinematic videos.” The agency has previously worked on editorial shoots featured in Harper’s Bazaar and Elle. Seraphinne Vallora told the BBC that it created 10 draft models for Guess cofounder Paul Marciano, who ultimately selected one brunette and one blonde. When asked about the choice of race for the model,
Join our Patreon for extra-long episodes and ad-free content: https://www.patreon.com/techish This week, Techish host Michael Berhane teams up with TechCrunch reporter Dominic-Madori Davis to break down why Silicon Valley is leaning into the intense 996 work culture. They also dive into Black beauty brands like Ami Colé struggling to stay afloat. Flo’s privacy trial, and Mira Murati’s $2 billion seed round. And for the Patreon subscribers: why the Tea app is in hot water and the dark side of tech’s H-1B visas. Chapters 00:43 Silicon Valley Embraces Controversial 996 Workweek07:11 Black-Owned
