Technology

Social impact startups face unique challenges joining the right accelerator is key

A growing number of founders are leveraging the power of technology to help solve some of societys biggest problems, from developing self-monitoring digital health platforms that give patients more autonomy to finding new solutions for storing renewable energy. Today, on Global Accessibility Awareness Day, its particularly important to recognise the advancements a growing number of founders have made in making technology open, equal, and accessible to all, from creating devices that take into account deaf and blind communities to using AI to build groundbreaking advancements in prosthetics. But, due to the novel and often disruptive approaches they take to solve…

This story continues at The Next Web

Techs role in the quest for climate justice: What not to miss at TNW Conference

Award-winning innovators Caroline Lair and Lucia Gallardowill be speaking atTNW Conference, which takes place on June 15 & 16 in Amsterdam. If you want to experience the event (and say hi to our editorial team!), weve got something special for our loyal readers. Use the promo codeREAD-TNW-25and get a 25% discount on your business pass for TNW Conference. See you in Amsterdam! Social inequality and climate risk have become central to understanding what will drive innovation and investment for the future. On day two of TNW Conference, Caroline Lair, founder of startup and scaleup communities The Good AI…

This story continues at The Next Web

Crypto has no intrinsic value and no useful social purpose, say lawmakers

The crackdown on cryptocurrency escalated today after lawmakers called for consumer trading to be regulated like gambling. In a new report by a cross-party committee, British politicians claimed the likes ofBitcoin and Ether have no intrinsic value and serve no useful social purpose. They also noted several adverse impacts of cryptocurrencies. Specifically, they highlighted the vast energy consumption, the risk to consumer traders, and the criminal use in scams, fraud, and money laundering. Effective regulation is clearly needed. Due to the public risks, the committee warned against regulating trading as a financial service which the UK government has proposed.…

This story continues at The Next Web

Funding down, exits muted, and valuations flat in rough quarter for European startups

Its been a rough start to 2023 for European startups. In the first quarter of the year, dealmaking decelerated, valuations flattened, and exits remained subdued, according to new research. Analysts from PitchBook, a financial data firm, found that investor priorities have shifted from growth at all costs to profitability. After a boom in VC activity that trickled into early 2022, reports of lower growth rates, workforce reductions, and tougher funding conditions have emerged. As a result, due diligence processes have lengthened, with revenues, valuations, and runways under heightened scrutiny. Nalin Patel, the reports author, noted that investors across the board…

This story continues at The Next Web

Sustainable farming on Earth and in space: A must-see at TNW Conference

Barbara Belvisi, award-winning innovator and entrepreneur, will be speaking at TNW Conference, which takes place on June 15 & 16 in Amsterdam. If you want to experience the event (and say hi to our editorial team!), weve got something special for our loyal readers. Use the promo code READ-TNW-25 and get a 25% discount on your business pass for TNW Conference. See you in Amsterdam! Picture a future where technology enables sustainable living on Earth, while preparing for life in space. Thats the exact mission of Interstellar Lab and this future is happening now! So if you share my…

This story continues at The Next Web

EU approves Microsoft bid for Activision Blizzard but the saga is unlikely to end soon

Eu regulators have greenlit Microsoftsacquisition of gaming giant Activision Blizzard, but analysts warn that the deal remains a long way from completion. The EU approved the $69 billion (63bn) takeover after Microsoft agreed to several pro-competition remedies. Most notably, the company pledged to automatically license popular Activision Blizzard games, such as Call of Duty, to rival cloud gaming services. The commitments offered by Microsoft will enable for the first time the streaming of such games in any cloud game streaming services, enhancing competition and opportunities for growth, said Margrethe Vestager, the EUs antitrust czar. With our clearance #Activition Blizzards…

This story continues at The Next Web

Or just read more coverage about: Microsoft

OpenAI is offering a free class in prompt engineering for devs

Whether or not AI lives up to the hype surrounding it will largely depend on good prompt engineering. Prompt engineering is the key to unlocking useful and usable outputs from generative AI, such as ChatGPT or its image-making counterpart DALL-E. These AI tools use natural language processing so they can take a users typed inputs and turn them into their desired outputs. However, as many who have tried and tested can confirm, crafting inputs that are comprehensive and detailed enough to instruct the AI to nail the brief is a process that takes time to master. Think of…

This story continues at The Next Web

First Contact: Finlands Framery reveals new office pod with in-person effect

If youre working with other people which most of us are its quite likely that youre spending a sizeable chunk of your time in meetings. Before COVID-19, youd expect most meetings to be conducted in-person, and business travel was much more prolific than it is these days. The pandemic changed that dynamic beyond recognition, as startups and corporates alike suddenly discovered that a lot of things can actually be discussed and solved in a video call. Combined with people being generally reluctant to return to the office, this has ushered in an era of telepresence, where at least…

This story continues at The Next Web

1 billion tech fund launched in major boost for Dutch startups

Organs-on-chips, recyclable wind turbine blades, and robotic farmers these are just some of the technologies earmarked for funding under a new growth programme approved by the Dutch government last week. NXTGEN HIGHTECH will invest 1 billion over the next seven years in an effort to make the Netherlands Europes leading high-tech cluster. The programme is the initiative of prominent Dutch innovation accelerators including Holland High Tech, TNO, and FME, along with a number of universities and regional development agencies. Most of the 260 participating companies are SMEs (190) and startups (70) that will use the funding to further develop…

This story continues at The Next Web