The podcast also covered a significant deal in the self-driving space, Beehiiv's funding round, and Anna Heim's reporting on disability tech and AI's role in accelerating the industry. They noted the variety of business models used by the startups discussed, suggesting multiple avenues for creating technology that benefits a broader range of people. The Equity podcast is available on various platforms and posts every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
Key takeaways:
- The downturn in venture capital funding since the 2021-era bubble has affected startups, VC firms, and accelerators, including Techstars which has seen some departures.
- Wallet-as-a-service startup Ansa has raised funds, despite initial misunderstandings about its business model.
- A significant deal has taken place in the self-driving space, and Beehiiv has secured a $33 million Series B funding round in 2024.
- There is increasing interest and development in disability tech, with AI accelerating the industry and a variety of business models being explored by startups.