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How Aerospace Technology Is Driving Sustainable Flight Solutions

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The aerospace industry has long been associated with innovation, speed, and advanced engineering. In recent years, the industry has pivoted to address one of humanity’s most pressing challenges: sustainability. With increasing concerns about climate change and the environmental impact of traditional aviation, aerospace technology is at the forefront of creating sustainable flight solutions. Innovations in Sustainable Aviation Advancements in aerospace technology have brought forth several groundbreaking innovations aimed at reducing aviation’s carbon footprint. Among these are the development of electric and hybrid-electric propulsion systems, which significantly decrease fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Companies are also exploring the potential of hydrogen as a clean fuel alternative, promising zero emissions during flight. Another promising innovation is the use of lightweight materials, such as carbon composites, which reduce the overall weight of aircraft and improv...
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Calo raises $25 million to expand its ready-to-eat meal service beyond the Middle East

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A business built around increasingly customized ready-to-eat meals has netted Middle Eastern startup Calo a sizeable funding injection as it looks to expand both what it can offer its time-strapped customers and where it delivers its growing range of just-heat-to-eat dishes. The meal delivery market in the Middle East will hit $11.2 billion by 2030, according to a report from MarkNtel Advisors published last year. Food aggregators such as Careem, Deliveroo, and Talabat have built big businesses by banking on the habits of busy professionals ordering food in rather than making meals themselves — fueled in large part by the COVID-19 pandemic. Riyadh-based Calo differentiates itself by offering customized meal subscriptions for specialized segments like weight loss, high protein intake, or balanced meals — targeting customers who care what they are eating, not merely when their food will arrive. The startup plans to further lean into meal customization to cater to more personalized segmen...
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SoftBank Vision Fund co-CEO Misra to leave firm

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SoftBank said the co-CEO of Vision Fund, Rajeev Misra, will soon step down from his leadership roles at the firm’s flagship technology investment vehicles, marking the departure of one of the Japanese group’s most prominent dealmakers. The company said on Tuesday that Misra, who helped steer the $100 billion Vision Fund through both its explosive rise and subsequent challenges, will relinquish his positions as co-head of SoftBank Investment Advisers and SoftBank Global Advisers. Alex Clavel will assume sole leadership as chief executive of both units. The move comes after Misra withdrew from his executive positions at SoftBank Group in August 2022, when he stepped back from his roles as corporate officer and executive vice president of the parent company. The former Deutsche Bank executive launched One Investment Management, a $6.8 billion fund backed by Abu Dhabi, in 2022. Misra will no longer have an official role at SoftBank, the company said. During his ten-year tenure at SoftBank,...
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Altos Ventures, an early backer of Coupang and Roblox, raises $500M fund

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  Altos Ventures, the Silicon Valley venture capital firm that has backed the likes of Roblox, Coupang, PandaDoc, and Quizlet, has secured $500 million for its latest fund, according to SEC filings. The firm has been around for almost three decades and this is its largest fund to date. Altos Ventures declined to comment on the filing or the new fund. The multistage VC firm manages over 15 funds across three vehicles, according to PitchBook. They include Altos Ventures and Altos Hybrid funds, which invest in U.S. and global companies, as well as Altos Korea Opportunity Fund, which targets startups in South Korea. Altos Ventures has more than $7 billion in assets under management. Altos Ventures specializes in enterprise and consumer software sectors, with a strong focus on SaaS, consumer and mobile. The firm prides itself on being the “first institutional investor in high-growth, founder-led companies.” The new fund is notable because it’s a signal that well-established firms are co...
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OpenAI investor Josh Kushner praises Musk, despite Musk’s OpenAI lawsuit

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Elon Musk may be suing OpenAI, accusing the ChatGPT maker of abandoning the company’s original mission as a nonprofit organization, but Josh Kushner, founder of Thrive Capital and one of the company’s key investors, has nothing but good things to say about the world’s richest man. “I have deep admiration and respect for Elon,” Kushner said last week at Fortune Global Forum. His position may not be a surprise. Thrive is an investor in SpaceX, and Kushner has family ties to Donald Trump, whom Musk helped elect. Kushner is the younger brother of the president-elect’s son-in-law Jared Kushner. Indeed, when asked if he may be more worried about his investment in OpenAI now that Musk has an outsized influence with the incoming White House, Kushner didn’t miss a chance to praise Musk’s political intentions. (Earlier last week, Trump appointed Musk to co-lead the newly created Department of Government Efficiency.) “My interpretation of [Musk’s] excitement to participate in the government is ve...
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Rajat Khare Explains How AI, ML, Deeptech and Big Data Will Shape the Future

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Technology is a driving force shaping the world we live in, influencing our lives in ways that extend far beyond the use of smartphones or tablets. Often, its profound impact becomes evident only in hindsight, as we come to understand the significance of these advancements in our daily lives. Today, organizations worldwide rely heavily on data to guide their strategies and decision-making processes. It’s hard to envision a modern world without data at its core. Many electronic devices leverage IoT technology to gather information, from smart vehicles to wearable gadgets. Innovations in IoT have surged, transforming how we interact with technology—whether it's managing home temperatures or tracking daily fitness goals with smart devices. As IoT and big data continue to evolve, they promise to connect our devices seamlessly, enhancing our everyday experiences. The FinTech sector offers remarkable innovations, using big data and advanced algorithms to detect fraudulent activities in r...
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Las Vegas sheriff tells a16z partners what’s next on his wish list

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Las Vegas police have received funding for tech like drones, license plate readers, and more from Andreessen Horowitz partner Ben Horowitz. Next on its wish list? Artificial intelligence to go through police footage. The city’s Sheriff Kevin McMahill said on a podcast with Horowitz and partner Marc Andreessen that he wants to use AI to blur faces or obscure sensitive information from body camera footage. McMahill also said he wants to use AI to help officers sift through the reams of information they receive when they subpoena cell phone tower data during investigations. “I really believe that some of this AI here in the new future can have tremendous impact on what has caused significant challenge for me as the sheriff,” McMahill said.  The giant Silicon Valley venture firm released the episode on Monday, just a few weeks after TechCrunch revealed that Horowitz has been financing the Vegas police department’s purchasing of a number of a16z portfolio companies’ products. Emails Tec...
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