Jay Graber is the engineer behind Bluesky, the decentralized social platform she describes as “billionaire-proof.” The Tulsa-born CEO was tapped by Jack Dorsey in 2021 to lead the project before Elon Musk’s Twitter takeover.
Gravis Robotics just secured $23 million to expand its autonomous construction equipment technology. The startup retrofits existing heavy machinery with AI and sensors to operate autonomously. They’re tackling a massive labor shortage as skilled operators retire and younger workers avoid the industr
CloudKitchens is considering adding IQ tests to its hiring process according to CTO Brian Atwell. The ghost kitchen startup founded by Uber’s Travis Kalanick is running 20 experiments to improve interviews. Atwell says IQ tests could help weed out candidates early in the process.
Small business owners are defying economic concerns with strong optimism for 2026. According to Paychex data, 88% expect revenue growth next year, and nearly half are hiring seasonal workers specifically to prepare for anticipated 2026 expansion. This comes despite ongoing hiring challenges and cons
AI infrastructure startup Vijil has raised $17 million to solve the trust problem holding back enterprise AI adoption. The platform helps companies deploy AI agents 75% faster while ensuring reliability and security.
Nuclear energy startup X-energy has secured $700 million in Series D funding just months after expanding its Series C round. The company is developing small modular reactors and has orders for 144 units from major customers including Amazon. This brings their total funding to $1.8 billion as they ra
At just 29, Brian Zhan has reunited with former colleague Max Gazor to deploy an unusually aggressive VC strategy focused on massive seed investments in AI. Their $165 million fund will make only 10 investments with checks reaching $30 million each, betting big on founders with little more than prom
Newsletter platform beehiiv is transforming into a full creator toolkit with AI website builders and digital product sales. CEO Tyler Denk believes quality content will always rise to the top despite market saturation concerns. The company is betting it can expand better than competitors can match i
Lithuania’s AI scene is exploding with companies hitting million-dollar revenue milestones in weeks, not years. These tiny teams are solving real problems from healthcare to education with agentic AI that actually works. The secret? Shipping fast and keeping teams lean.
Stuut uses AI to automate accounts receivable for companies that desperately need their payments collected. The startup just raised $29.5 million in Series A funding led by Andreessen Horowitz. Customers include Honeywell, Wayfair, and other industrial firms.
