📊 How startups feel in 2025
Mercury surveyed 1,500 founders and the results paint a mixed but telling picture of today’s startup economy.
🔸 87% feel more confident than in 2024, only 3% say things are worse
🔸 Startups with AI are far more optimistic (93% vs 71%)
🔸 27% raised over $5M, often combining VC with loans, grants, or RBF
🔸 61% are hiring, but among $5M+ revenue companies there are no solo founders
🔸 80% expect costs to rise in 2025, mostly due to AI and automation
AI has shifted from optional to required, funding sources are diversifying beyond pure venture, and teams are the real bottleneck to scale.
📊 Powered by Technco
Mercury surveyed 1,500 founders and the results paint a mixed but telling picture of today’s startup economy.
🔸 87% feel more confident than in 2024, only 3% say things are worse
🔸 Startups with AI are far more optimistic (93% vs 71%)
🔸 27% raised over $5M, often combining VC with loans, grants, or RBF
🔸 61% are hiring, but among $5M+ revenue companies there are no solo founders
🔸 80% expect costs to rise in 2025, mostly due to AI and automation
AI has shifted from optional to required, funding sources are diversifying beyond pure venture, and teams are the real bottleneck to scale.
Optimism is back, but founders who overextend on AI spend or inflate metrics may find 2025 just as risky as 2022.
📊 Powered by Technco
❤3
🌐 Atlassian to acquire The Browser Company for $610M
Atlassian is buying The Browser Company, maker of Arc and Dia, in a $610M cash deal. The move aims to build an AI-powered browser tailored for SaaS-heavy workflows and knowledge workers.
🖱 The Browser Company will remain independent under Atlassian
🖱 Development focus shifts to Dia after Arc was discontinued
🖱 Deal enables faster hiring, cross-platform support, and feature rollouts
🖱 Backed by investors like Jeff Weiner, Ev Williams, Dylan Field, and Akshay Kothari
🖱 Expected to close in Q2 FY2026
✔️Powered by Trade Watcher
Atlassian is buying The Browser Company, maker of Arc and Dia, in a $610M cash deal. The move aims to build an AI-powered browser tailored for SaaS-heavy workflows and knowledge workers.
🖱 The Browser Company will remain independent under Atlassian
🖱 Development focus shifts to Dia after Arc was discontinued
🖱 Deal enables faster hiring, cross-platform support, and feature rollouts
🖱 Backed by investors like Jeff Weiner, Ev Williams, Dylan Field, and Akshay Kothari
🖱 Expected to close in Q2 FY2026
A strong signal that the browser is no longer just a window to the web - it’s becoming the new OS for work.
✔️Powered by Trade Watcher
🧑💻 Why “negative actions” create the best growth hypotheses
💬 Every “no” is a signal: If a user abandons a feature, it shows where value breaks down.
💬 Patterns reveal friction: When many users churn at the same step, that’s not random — it’s a growth opportunity disguised as a loss.
💬 Negative > positive feedback: Happy users say “great job.” Leaving users show you exactly what blocks scale.
💬 Hypotheses born from pain: Each unsubscribe can trigger a test — shorter flows, better timing, clearer value.
Most teams celebrate sign-ups and clicks. But the real gold is hidden in the exits — unsubscribes, abandoned features, deleted accounts.
💬 Every “no” is a signal: If a user abandons a feature, it shows where value breaks down.
💬 Patterns reveal friction: When many users churn at the same step, that’s not random — it’s a growth opportunity disguised as a loss.
💬 Negative > positive feedback: Happy users say “great job.” Leaving users show you exactly what blocks scale.
💬 Hypotheses born from pain: Each unsubscribe can trigger a test — shorter flows, better timing, clearer value.
Growth doesn’t come from applause. It comes from listening to exits, because every departure carries a map of what to fix next.
🗂 72 AI tools in one cheat sheet
A fresh list is making the rounds on Twitter — 72 of the most useful AI services across key categories:
🔸 Image generation
🔸 Video generation
🔸 Text writing
🔸 Research & analysis
📊 Powered by Technco
A fresh list is making the rounds on Twitter — 72 of the most useful AI services across key categories:
🔸 Image generation
🔸 Video generation
🔸 Text writing
🔸 Research & analysis
A handy one-stop cheat sheet for anyone working with AI. Worth saving.
📊 Powered by Technco
📈 Nasdaq pushes for tokenized stocks
Nasdaq has filed with the SEC to tokenize equities, offering investors the option to trade traditional shares or blockchain-based tokens with equal priority.
🖱 Customers would hold full shareholder rights, including voting and dividends
🖱 Trades would still clear through the Depository Trust Co., with tokens logged on-chain
🖱 Move follows Robinhood’s European stock tokens and mounting efforts by Bybit, Kraken, and Gemini
🖱 SEC Chair Paul Atkins has flagged asset tokenization as a key priority under Project Crypto
🖱 HSBC analysts expect Broadcom-style custom tokenization growth to rival Nvidia’s by 2026
📊 Powered by Technco
Nasdaq has filed with the SEC to tokenize equities, offering investors the option to trade traditional shares or blockchain-based tokens with equal priority.
🖱 Customers would hold full shareholder rights, including voting and dividends
🖱 Trades would still clear through the Depository Trust Co., with tokens logged on-chain
🖱 Move follows Robinhood’s European stock tokens and mounting efforts by Bybit, Kraken, and Gemini
🖱 SEC Chair Paul Atkins has flagged asset tokenization as a key priority under Project Crypto
🖱 HSBC analysts expect Broadcom-style custom tokenization growth to rival Nvidia’s by 2026
If approved, Nasdaq would become the first major US exchange to bring stock tokenization into regulated markets — a seismic shift for TradFi meeting crypto rails.
📊 Powered by Technco
🚕 Uber and Momenta to launch robotaxi trials in Germany
Uber and Chinese AV startup Momenta will begin testing autonomous vehicles in Munich in 2026 - their first publicly announced city in continental Europe.
🖱 Cars will start with human safety operators onboard
🖱 Puts Uber in direct competition with Lyft–Baidu’s upcoming AV launches in Germany and the UK
🖱 Uber already partners with 20 AV firms globally, generating 1.5M trips annually
🖱 Momenta’s ADAS tech is installed in 400K+ vehicles, including models from Mercedes, BMW, and Audi
📊 Powered by Technco
Uber and Chinese AV startup Momenta will begin testing autonomous vehicles in Munich in 2026 - their first publicly announced city in continental Europe.
🖱 Cars will start with human safety operators onboard
🖱 Puts Uber in direct competition with Lyft–Baidu’s upcoming AV launches in Germany and the UK
🖱 Uber already partners with 20 AV firms globally, generating 1.5M trips annually
🖱 Momenta’s ADAS tech is installed in 400K+ vehicles, including models from Mercedes, BMW, and Audi
Munich’s automotive heritage made it Uber’s European launchpad. The next phase: convincing regulators that Level 4 robotaxis are safe for public roads.
📊 Powered by Technco
💵 Biggest Latin American rounds of 2025
This year’s largest funding rounds in LatAm were led by Klar and Ualá - both neobanks. Fintech once again proved to be the dominant sector across the region.
📊 Powered by Technco
This year’s largest funding rounds in LatAm were led by Klar and Ualá - both neobanks. Fintech once again proved to be the dominant sector across the region.
The takeaway: capital is still flowing most aggressively into financial services, confirming fintech’s position as the backbone of Latin America’s startup scene.
📊 Powered by Technco
💻 Turn any repo into an AI prompt
GitIngest lets you feed an entire GitHub repo into an LLM in seconds.
🔸 Drop in a repo link and wait a moment
🔸 Get back a clean, structured prompt with the code and files
🔸 Edit it to trim noise and keep only what matters
📊 Powered by Technco
GitIngest lets you feed an entire GitHub repo into an LLM in seconds.
🔸 Drop in a repo link and wait a moment
🔸 Get back a clean, structured prompt with the code and files
🔸 Edit it to trim noise and keep only what matters
A neat shortcut for devs who want their AI to grok a codebase fast.
📊 Powered by Technco
🤖 ASML bets $1.5B on Mistral
ASML, Europe’s chipmaking giant, is set to invest €1.3B ($1.5B) into French AI startup Mistral, becoming its largest shareholder and securing a board seat.
🖱 Part of a €1.7B Series C valuing Mistral at €10B ($11.7B) pre-money — Europe’s top AI valuation
🖱 Marks a strategic push for European tech sovereignty in AI and semiconductors
🖱 ASML already uses AI to optimize its €180M EUV machines — Mistral’s expertise could sharpen that edge
🖱 Mistral, founded in 2023, has backing from Nvidia and previously raised at a $6B valuation
📊 Powered by Technco
ASML, Europe’s chipmaking giant, is set to invest €1.3B ($1.5B) into French AI startup Mistral, becoming its largest shareholder and securing a board seat.
🖱 Part of a €1.7B Series C valuing Mistral at €10B ($11.7B) pre-money — Europe’s top AI valuation
🖱 Marks a strategic push for European tech sovereignty in AI and semiconductors
🖱 ASML already uses AI to optimize its €180M EUV machines — Mistral’s expertise could sharpen that edge
🖱 Mistral, founded in 2023, has backing from Nvidia and previously raised at a $6B valuation
This tie-up unites Europe’s chip crown jewel with its hottest AI model maker - a symbolic step toward reducing reliance on US and Chinese tech.
📊 Powered by Technco
📱 Apple unveils iPhone 17 lineup and more
Apple’s 2025 event brought a wave of new devices, headlined by the iPhone 17 series.
🔸 iPhone 17 — A19 chip with on-device LLMs, 6.3" 120Hz Always-On Display, 48MP main + improved selfie cam, +8 hours battery vs iPhone 16. From $799.
🔸 iPhone Air — ultra-thin (5.6mm), A19 Pro chip with MacBook Pro–level AI, 6.5" 120Hz display, Wi-Fi 7, eSIM-only, all-day battery. From $999.
🔸 iPhone 17 Pro / Pro Max — A19 Pro chip, triple 48MP cameras with 8x optical zoom, longest iPhone battery life yet, new orange color, from $1099 / $1199.
🔸 AirPods Pro 3 — live speech translation, top-tier ANC, heart-rate sensor, step counter. $249.
🔸 Apple Watch 11 — now with 5G, hypertension detector, 24h continuous battery. From $399. SE 3 and Ultra 3 also revealed.
📊 Powered by Technco
Apple’s 2025 event brought a wave of new devices, headlined by the iPhone 17 series.
🔸 iPhone 17 — A19 chip with on-device LLMs, 6.3" 120Hz Always-On Display, 48MP main + improved selfie cam, +8 hours battery vs iPhone 16. From $799.
🔸 iPhone Air — ultra-thin (5.6mm), A19 Pro chip with MacBook Pro–level AI, 6.5" 120Hz display, Wi-Fi 7, eSIM-only, all-day battery. From $999.
🔸 iPhone 17 Pro / Pro Max — A19 Pro chip, triple 48MP cameras with 8x optical zoom, longest iPhone battery life yet, new orange color, from $1099 / $1199.
🔸 AirPods Pro 3 — live speech translation, top-tier ANC, heart-rate sensor, step counter. $249.
🔸 Apple Watch 11 — now with 5G, hypertension detector, 24h continuous battery. From $399. SE 3 and Ultra 3 also revealed.
AI-first chips, thinner designs, and health features show Apple doubling down on performance and wellness.
📊 Powered by Technco
🐎 Volkswagen puts horsepower behind a paywall
VW is testing a subscription model in the UK that locks part of the ID.3’s power output unless drivers pay extra.
🖱 Base ID.3 Pro S shows 201 hp, with full 228 hp unlocked for £16.50/month, £165/year, or £649 lifetime
🖱 Comes with a one-month free trial for buyers
🖱 Move echoes Mercedes’ “Acceleration Increase” and BMW’s failed heated-seat subscription
🖱 Critics call it nickel-and-diming on a $50K car, while VW says it offers flexibility for lease customers
📊 Powered by Technco
VW is testing a subscription model in the UK that locks part of the ID.3’s power output unless drivers pay extra.
🖱 Base ID.3 Pro S shows 201 hp, with full 228 hp unlocked for £16.50/month, £165/year, or £649 lifetime
🖱 Comes with a one-month free trial for buyers
🖱 Move echoes Mercedes’ “Acceleration Increase” and BMW’s failed heated-seat subscription
🖱 Critics call it nickel-and-diming on a $50K car, while VW says it offers flexibility for lease customers
It’s another sign that when cars become software, ownership doesn’t mean what it used to.
📊 Powered by Technco
📦🚀 𝙂𝙤𝙤𝙜𝙡𝙚 𝙧𝙚𝙥𝙚𝙣𝙨𝙚 𝙡'𝙚𝙭𝙥é𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙪𝙩𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙪𝙧 𝙙𝙚 𝙡𝙖 𝙡𝙞𝙫𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙨𝙤𝙣
Gmail introduces a new “Purchases” tab that centralizes all your orders and package tracking in one place.
No more searching through dozens of confirmation emails: with one click, you have an overview of your deliveries.
💡 𝘿𝙚𝙧𝙧𝙞𝙧𝙚 𝙘𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙚 𝙢𝙞𝙨𝙚 to 𝙟𝙤𝙪𝙧?
• A direct response to the rise of e-commerce and the overload of mailboxes.
Source: https://nlab.cg/RpJlh
#Innovation #SaaS #Google #Ecommerce #Productivity #Growth
Gmail introduces a new “Purchases” tab that centralizes all your orders and package tracking in one place.
No more searching through dozens of confirmation emails: with one click, you have an overview of your deliveries.
💡 𝘿𝙚𝙧𝙧𝙞𝙧𝙚 𝙘𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙚 𝙢𝙞𝙨𝙚 to 𝙟𝙤𝙪𝙧?
• A direct response to the rise of e-commerce and the overload of mailboxes.
Source: https://nlab.cg/RpJlh
#Innovation #SaaS #Google #Ecommerce #Productivity #Growth
Nzoko News
Gmail makes it easier to track upcoming package deliveries - Nzoko News
Google also announced that it's updating the Promotion category in Gmail to allow users to sort by "most relevant" promotion emails.
💳🔥 𝘿𝙟𝙖𝙢𝙤 𝙛𝙧𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙩 : l’agrément microfinance est enfin décroché 🚀
👉🏾 Une étape majeure pour l’inclusion financière dans la zone UEMOA.
Voici les 5 points clés :
👉 https://go.nzoko.com/DxwIU
#Fintech #Innovation #AfricaTech #Microfinance
Après 3 ans d’efforts, Djamo devient officiellement une institution de microfinance en Côte d’Ivoire, validée par le Ministère de l’Économie et la BCEAO.
👉🏾 Une étape majeure pour l’inclusion financière dans la zone UEMOA.
Voici les 5 points clés :
👉 https://go.nzoko.com/DxwIU
#Fintech #Innovation #AfricaTech #Microfinance
🤖 Albania appoints world’s first AI-made minister
Albania has introduced Diella, an artificial intelligence–powered virtual minister, tasked with overseeing all public procurement. Prime Minister Edi Rama presented her as part of his new cabinet reshuffle.
🔸 Diella’s name means “sunshine” in Albanian, and she appears as a digital avatar in traditional clothing
🔸 She will manage tenders, evaluate bids, and even “hire talent globally”
🔸 Rama says the goal is to make public procurement “100% incorruptible and legible”
🔸 Diella already powers the government’s e-Albania platform, which offers digital services to citizens
🔸 The EU has long flagged corruption in Albania’s public procurement system
📊 Powered by Technco
Albania has introduced Diella, an artificial intelligence–powered virtual minister, tasked with overseeing all public procurement. Prime Minister Edi Rama presented her as part of his new cabinet reshuffle.
🔸 Diella’s name means “sunshine” in Albanian, and she appears as a digital avatar in traditional clothing
🔸 She will manage tenders, evaluate bids, and even “hire talent globally”
🔸 Rama says the goal is to make public procurement “100% incorruptible and legible”
🔸 Diella already powers the government’s e-Albania platform, which offers digital services to citizens
🔸 The EU has long flagged corruption in Albania’s public procurement system
By shifting procurement decisions to an AI minister, Albania is betting on technology to combat corruption and accelerate its path toward EU membership.
📊 Powered by Technco
Vibe coding has turned senior devs into ‘AI babysitters,’ but they say it’s worth it
https://go.nzoko.com/sGWIf
https://go.nzoko.com/sGWIf
Nzoko News
Vibe coding has turned senior devs into ‘AI babysitters,’ but they say it’s worth it - Nzoko News
TechCrunch spoke to experienced coders about their time using AI-generated code about what they see as the future of vibe coding.
Groww, backed by Satya Nadella, set to become first Indian startup to go public after U.S.-to-India move
👉 https://go.nzoko.com/wVMfI
👉 https://go.nzoko.com/wVMfI
📹 Vimeo sold in $1.38B deal
Vimeo will be acquired by European app giant Bending Spoons in an all-cash transaction worth $1.38B, with the deal set to close in Q4 2025. Once finalized, Vimeo will be delisted from public markets.
🖱 Bending Spoons says it will invest heavily in Vimeo’s U.S. and global offerings, focusing on enterprise, streaming, and creator tools
🖱 The company has a record of aggressive cost-cutting — after buying Evernote and WeTransfer, it slashed staff and restricted free features
🖱 Vimeo, spun out of IAC in 2021, has since lost nearly 90% of its market value
✔️Powered by Trade Watcher
Vimeo will be acquired by European app giant Bending Spoons in an all-cash transaction worth $1.38B, with the deal set to close in Q4 2025. Once finalized, Vimeo will be delisted from public markets.
🖱 Bending Spoons says it will invest heavily in Vimeo’s U.S. and global offerings, focusing on enterprise, streaming, and creator tools
🖱 The company has a record of aggressive cost-cutting — after buying Evernote and WeTransfer, it slashed staff and restricted free features
🖱 Vimeo, spun out of IAC in 2021, has since lost nearly 90% of its market value
The acquisition could bring Vimeo fresh resources, but given Bending Spoons’ history, many creators will be watching closely to see if the platform thrives — or gets hollowed out.
✔️Powered by Trade Watcher