The hosts, Mary Ann and Alex, discuss the growth stories and challenges faced by these startups. They highlight the insurtech and MLOps sectors' vitality, the changing dynamics of venture markets, and the struggles of some startups in 2023. The episode concludes with a look at SoftBank's increasing activity.
Key takeaways:
- Lula, an insurtech startup, has set itself up for a massive up-round in 2023 by adopting a frugal approach.
- MLOps startup Weights & Biases has raised $50 million, which is considered a positive move in today's venture market.
- BlueJeans, a Zoom competitor bought by Verizon during the pandemic, has folded due to lack of customer interest.
- Kenyan logistics startup Sendy has shut down, and EV startup Proterra is seeking bankruptcy help, indicating some struggles in these sectors.