The unique model of this article was revealed on Linkedin. Subscribe without spending a dime to get the subsequent version in your inbox.
For first time readers: the phrase “Firgun” (pronounced ‘feer-goon’) is an off-the-cuff fashionable Hebrew time period and idea in Israeli tradition (initially Yiddish), which describes real, unselfish delight or delight within the accomplishment of the opposite particular person. It’s the alternative of “schadenfreude” (which stands for being comfortable for another person’s misfortune). Firgun is all about genuinely feeling and expressing happiness, delight, or admiration for members of our neighborhood’s accomplishments, success and wins. Extra about Firgun and why it issues on VC Cafe: https://lnkd.in/dg2a86p
The BBC amplified a blood libel began by the UN and later apologised. Two staffers on the Israeli embassy in Washington DC have been murdered by a shooter exterior of the Jewish Museum. They have been about to get engaged and have been attending an occasion to debate how multi-faith organizations can work collectively to convey humanitarian support to war-torn areas like Gaza. These are simply the newest escalations within the rising Antisemitism globally. In the meantime, 58 Israeli hostages stay in Ga**. A 3rd of them are believed to be alive. We should #BRINGTHEMHOME NOW.
Within the wider tech world, it’s been a momentous week. Google introduced plenty of new merchandise as a part of Google I/O 2025. Most notable is ‘AI Mode‘ rolling out within the US – the search expertise is altering from sending site visitors to extra chat primarily based interface. Right here’s every part Google introduced this week together with the unimaginable new Imagen 4 and Veo 3 video mannequin, Undertaking Mariner internet searching agent, Undertaking Astra for actual time visible search, Undertaking Aura, new sensible glasses powered by AndroidXR actual time video dubbing and many others. OpenAI introduced that the corporate has acquired Jonny Ive’s startup IO for $6.5 billion in inventory and that he will probably be becoming a member of the corporate to create “a brand new technology of AI powered computer systems” (the precise machine is a thriller). The corporate additionally introduced the launch of Codex, its AI coding automation agent. Anthropic launched Claude Opus 4 and Claude Sonnet 4 each hybrid fashions with close to prompt responses and prolonged considering. There’s one drawback: the mannequin tried to blackmail the engineers that threatened to close it down. Microsoft launched new GitHub Copilot agent. MiniMax dethroned OpenAI and ElevenLabs with its new AI speech mannequin Speech-02-HD. ElevenLabs launched AI soundboard SB-1, allows customers to create any sound impact. Apple lastly lets Fortnite returns to the app retailer and additional delays its AI options in Siri… NVIDIA introduced its new capabilities to energy humanoid robots over the cloud. Jensen introduced a new analysis centre in Shanghai and managed to reverse the US chip ban. Mistral AI launched Devstral, an open-weight coding mannequin.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“When with out sources, rely on resourcefulness.”
Solar Tzu, The Artwork of Battle
NEW FUNDING ROUNDS
EXITS
APPOINTMENTS
LINKS FOR YOUR BROWSER
VC CAFE/ REMAGINE VENTURES
- Constructing a Startup within the Age of AI: What’s Modified, What Hasn’t – “There’s by no means been higher to be an entrepreneur” is usually repeated (by buyers primarily). Whereas its true in lots of classes, there are a couple of nuances within the age of AI.
- Israel’s AI paradox – international powerhouse at a crossroads – new rankings and stories place Israel as one of many high AI hubs globally, however challenges are mounting
- Huge funding doesn’t equal assured success – a number of VC-backed startups shut down just lately, serving reminder that funding shouldn’t be a alternative to product market match
ISRAEL
- Nvidia grows its Israel footprint with $27M workplace growth in Tel Aviv – this most certainly indicators extra Israeli startup M&A is deliberate…
- Welcome to the International Intifada – the killing of the quickly to be engaged staffers in Washington DC ought to function an alarm on the rise of antisemitism. by Bari Weiss
- Israel launches mission to construct the primary Nationwide AI Supercomputer
GLOBAL
- The International Tech Index 2025 by Dealroom.co locations Israel as one of many high startup hubs, but in addition ranks Paris forward of London…
- Methods to earn money in enterprise – wonderful podcast with Josh Kopelman on what’s modified in enterprise
- 99% of AI startups will probably be lifeless by 2026 – a controversial learn by Srinivas Rao – “The playbook as we speak is straightforward: slap a UI on GPT, name it specialised, and hope the consumer doesn’t look behind the scenes. However that’s not infrastructure. That’s camouflage”
NEWS FOR YOUR BROWSER
Tel Aviv ranked as of the highest AI hubs globally in keeping with new report by Dealroom (supply). Dive deeper on the state of Israel’s AI ecosystem in “Israel’s AI Paradox” on VC Cafe.
AI and ML are the one vibrant spots in a lackluster enterprise market proper now by PitchBook (supply)
This visible pissed off a number of European buyers. The Wall Avenue Journal lays out Europe’s tech malaise, displaying how threat aversion, regulation, and gradual capital are driving high founders—and the subsequent wave of AI innovation—straight to the U.S. (supply)
The evolving “knowledge stack” instruments in an AI world from Hitachi Ventures (supply).
SaaS startups in 2025 report by Carta (supply). About 24% of two founder groups lose a founder by yr 4.
The tight race for mannequin supremacy (supply) – OpenAI nonetheless leads frontier AI race, however Google, Anthropic closing hole
The place are VCs inserting their bets in AI primarily based on a latest survey (supply)
This State of Expertise Report by SignalFire – entry-level hiring is collapsing, elite AI labs are searching and locking in high expertise (Anthropic has 80% retention!), and Huge Tech is slowing GTM hiring to prioritise technical roles. (supply)
The influence of coding automation – check out the software program growth job posts within the US over time…
Google’s companion first agentic AI technique by CB Insights
What number of Individuals make $1M {dollars} a yr?
Info overload proper now could be actual…
That’s all for this week. Thanks for tuning in. There’s loads to rejoice in our “small” neighborhood. Carry on creating!
I am a former normal companion at google ventures, head of Google for Entrepreneurs in Europe and founding head of Campus London, Google’s first bodily hub for startups.
I am additionally the founding father of Techbikers, a non-profit bringing collectively the startup ecosystem on biking challenges in assist of Room to Learn. Since inception in 2012 we have constructed 11 faculties and 50 libraries within the growing world.
