WHAT’S AT STAKE TODAY ⚡
- U.S. and Indian VCs just formed a $1B+ alliance to fund India's deep tech startups 🚀
- Why Runway is eyeing the robotics industry for future revenue growth 🤖
- Lovable's CEO isn't too worried about the vibe-coding competition 💻
- AI Agents Slash 4,000 Salesforce Jobs, Months After CEO Downplays AI's Risks on Jobs 🤖
- AI and ML demand rises 54% in August with non-IT sectors leading growth 📈
- Alibaba shares jump 19% on cloud unit acceleration, report of new AI chip 📊
- It took real human intelligence to perfect the development of AI - artificial insemination 🧠
- China's AI chip hopefuls step into Nvidia's void 💾
Eight major VC firms pledge $1B+ to boost India's deep tech startups.
U.S. and Indian VCs just formed a $1B+ alliance to fund India’s deep tech startups
Eight prominent U.S. and Indian venture capital firms have formed an unprecedented coalition to address India's deep tech funding gap, committing over $1 billion across the next decade to strengthen bilateral technology partnerships.
The India Deep Tech Investment Alliance brings together notable investors including Accel, Blume Ventures, Celesta Capital, Gaja Capital, Ideaspring Capital, Premji Invest, Tenacity Ventures, and Venture Catalysts. This formal collaboration represents a significant departure from the industry norm, where investors typically compete for deals rather than coordinate through binding commitments.
The alliance emerges against a backdrop of criticism regarding India's startup ecosystem. In April, Indian Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal sparked controversy by criticizing domestic startups for focusing on food delivery rather than innovation, unfavorably comparing them to Chinese firms. Industry leaders pushed back, arguing that India lacks sufficient capital for deep tech ventures—a concern this new alliance directly addresses.
The timing aligns with India's ambitious ₹1 trillion ($11 billion) Research, Development, and Innovation (RDI) scheme announced in the national budget, designed to boost deep tech research and development. Crucially, New Delhi requires local incorporation for companies seeking RDI scheme incentives, a requirement the alliance aims to leverage.
Celesta Capital's Arun Kumar, serving as the alliance's inaugural chair, emphasizes the strategic alignment with both nations' governmental interests in critical and emerging technologies. The partnership will focus on early-stage startups from seed to Series B rounds, targeting foundational technologies including artificial intelligence, semiconductors, space technology, quantum computing, robotics, biotechnology, energy, and climate solutions.
Beyond funding, alliance members will provide comprehensive support including mentorship, network access, and assistance for portfolio companies expanding into the Indian market. The collaboration will facilitate information sharing, coordinate pipeline development, and create co-investment opportunities while maintaining each fund's independence through an advisory committee structure.
Sriram Vishwanathan, Celesta Capital's founding managing partner who spearheaded the initiative, views India as particularly attractive not only for new domestic companies but also for U.S. firms seeking Indian market expansion. Celesta has previously backed successful Indian deep tech ventures including space-tech company Agnikul, drone manufacturer IdeaForge, and AI-driven cancer diagnostics firm OneCell Diagnostics.
The geopolitical context adds complexity to the partnership. While President Trump and Prime Minister Modi launched the TRUST initiative in February to deepen tech cooperation, relations have since strained. Trump's recent 50% tariff on Indian goods over New Delhi's Russian oil purchases highlights growing trade tensions between the nations.
Despite these diplomatic challenges, the alliance represents a strategic bet on India's potential as a global deep tech hub. The billion-dollar commitment is positioned as just the beginning, with expectations for additional financial firms, private equity investors, and corporate participants to join.
The alliance will engage collectively with the Indian government on policy development and incentives, providing a unified industry voice—a significant advantage given past regulatory disruptions that occurred without adequate industry consultation. New members must meet Indian government conditions under the RDI scheme, including investing in designated "sunrise" sectors, backing India-domiciled startups, and securing necessary regulatory approvals.
Currently, relatively few qualifying companies exist, as many prominent Indian deep tech ventures are incorporated in the United States. However, the government's new incorporation requirements are expected to shift this dynamic.
While the alliance offers clear benefits through pooled capital and coordinated advocacy, it also presents potential risks. If coordination falters, promising companies could find themselves caught between competing interests or overlooked entirely.
The initiative reflects growing recognition of India's deep tech potential, supported by what Accel partner Anand Daniel describes as crucial "tailwinds": ambition, talent, policy intent, and patient capital. As Kumar notes, the rotating leadership structure ensures broad participation while maintaining focus on long-term ecosystem development.
This unprecedented collaboration signals a maturing of India's venture capital landscape and represents a significant vote of confidence in the country's ability to produce breakthrough technologies for global markets over the coming decade.
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Runway expands AI world models from entertainment into robotics training.
Why Runway is eyeing the robotics industry for future revenue growth
Runway, known for AI video and photo generation tools, is expanding into robotics after receiving unexpected interest from robotics and self-driving car companies. The New York-based company's world models, including Gen-4 and Runway Aleph, can simulate real-world scenarios for training purposes. This approach offers a more scalable and cost-effective alternative to real-world training, allowing companies to test specific variables and situations without changing other environmental factors. Unlike competitors like Nvidia, Runway plans to fine-tune existing models rather than creating separate ones, while building a dedicated robotics team to serve this growing market.
⚡ More AI Bites
- 💻🤖 Lovable's CEO isn't too worried about the vibe coding competition. AI code wars heat up!
- 💼⚡ AI agents slash 4000 Salesforce jobs months after CEO downplays AI's risks on jobs. Robot workforce strikes back!
- 📈🤖 AI and ML demand rises 54% in August with non-IT sectors leading growth. Machine learning boom spreads beyond tech!
- 📈💰 Alibaba shares Hong Kong today. E-commerce giant makes market moves!
- 🐄🧪 First artificial insemination took place in 1784, today 60% of US cows are bred via AI. Farming gets futuristic!
- 🖥️💰 NVIDIA GPU market training CUDA. Chip giant powers AI revolution!
🎙️ NEW EPISODE DROP:
The Future of Human + AI Collaboration | What are The Smarter Ways to Use AI
I sat down with Dimitriy Wolf — social engineer, psycholinguist, and advisor to presidents, sheikhs, and TEDx speakers — to break down why most people use AI wrong.
We covered how to think *with* AI (not just prompt it), how to build authentic brand voices, and what yachts have to do with artificial intelligence.
If you're still using ChatGPT like a search bar — you're getting left behind.
⚡ Trends for the Future
LayerX uses AI to cut enterprise back-office workload, scores $100M in Series B
LayerX raises $100M to automate Japanese back-office operations with AI.
Japanese companies are facing unprecedented pressure to automate their operations due to aging demographics, labor shortages, widespread adoption of generative AI, and the 2023 implementation of mandatory e-invoicing. Despite this urgent need to digitize finance, tax, procurement, and HR functions, digital transformation success rates remain dismally low at just 16% overall, dropping to merely 4-11% in traditional industries. The primary obstacles include weak leadership commitment, rigid corporate culture, and shortage of digital talent.
LayerX, a seven-year-old AI SaaS startup, has emerged as a solution provider in this challenging landscape, recently securing $100 million in Series B funding led by Technology Cross Ventures, marking the U.S. fund's inaugural investment in Japan. The round, which brings LayerX's total funding to $192.2 million, included participation from major investors like MUFG Bank, Mitsubishi UFJ Innovation Partners, and JAFCO Group.
Founded in 2018 by serial entrepreneur Yoshinori Fukushima, who previously created the successful news app Gunosy, LayerX initially focused on blockchain projects before pivoting to address Japan's paper-based invoice processing bottleneck. The company's flagship platform, Bakuraku, now serves over 15,000 companies with comprehensive back-office automation covering expense management, invoice processing, and corporate card operations.
What sets LayerX apart in a competitive market that includes domestic rivals like Money Forward Cloud Keihi and global players like SAP Concur and Rippling is its AI-native approach. The platform features advanced automation capabilities including auto-entry and document splitting, powered by a team that includes over 12 former CTOs and a Kaggle Grandmaster.
The startup's growth trajectory has been remarkable, expanding from 10,000 customers in February 2024 to 15,000 by April 2025, while doubling its workforce from 220 to 430 employees. LayerX is positioned to reach $68 million in revenue faster than any Japanese SaaS company in history, achieving the critical T2D3 growth benchmark ahead of schedule.
Looking ahead, LayerX has set ambitious targets of $680 million in annual recurring revenue by 2030, with half expected from its AI agent business, while growing to 1,000 employees by 2028.
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Episode 1: AI Education Without Limits
I sat down with Dr. José Fernández from the Miami Dade College AI Center to explore how AI is transforming education.
We discussed how students today can access world-class AI training with almost zero student loan debt — making innovation more accessible than ever.
Episode 2: What if your story were your sales strategy?
I sat down with Maury Rogow, a Hollywood producer and branding mastermind behind $2.5B in brand growth.
We talked about why the brands that feel effortless aren’t the loudest — they’re just the most aligned.
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