Techin' Geek

India has instructed Elon Musk’s X to promptly implement technical and procedural modifications to its AI chatbot Grok after users and lawmakers highlighted the creation of “obscene” content, including AI-manipulated images of women produced using the tool.

On Friday, India’s IT ministry issued the directive compelling Musk’s X to take corrective measures on Grok, including limiting the generation of content that involves “nudity, sexualization, sexually explicit, or otherwise unlawful” material. The ministry also imposed a 72-hour deadline for the social media platform to provide an action-taken report outlining the measures it has adopted to avert the hosting or distribution of content classified as “obscene, pornographic, vulgar, indecent, sexually explicit, pedophilic, or otherwise banned under the law.”

The directive, examined by TechCrunch, cautioned that noncompliance could undermine X’s “safe harbor” protections — legal safeguards against liability for user-generated content under Indian legislation.

India’s action follows concerns expressed by users who presented examples of Grok being instructed to modify images of individuals — mainly women — to give the impression that they were in bikinis, leading to a formal grievance from Indian parliamentarian Priyanka Chaturvedi. Additionally, recent reports highlighted cases where the AI chatbot produced sexualized images involving minors, a matter that X recognized earlier on Friday as a result of failures in their safety measures. Those images were subsequently removed.

However, images produced using Grok that made women seem to be in bikinis through AI modification remained publicly accessible on X at the time of publication, as noted by TechCrunch.

This latest order follows the Indian IT ministry’s issuance of a wider advisory on Monday, also reviewed by TechCrunch, to social media platforms, reminding them that adherence to local regulations regarding obscene and sexually explicit content is essential for maintaining legal immunity from liability for user-generated material. The advisory encouraged companies to bolster their internal safeguards and warned that failure to comply could result in legal repercussions under India’s IT and criminal laws.

“It is reiterated that non-compliance with the above requirements shall be viewed seriously and may result in strict legal consequences against your platform, its responsible officers and the users on the platform who violate the law, without any further notice,” the directive cautioned.

The Indian government stated that noncompliance could prompt action against X under India’s IT law and criminal regulations.

India, recognized as one of the largest digital markets globally, has become a crucial test case for the extent to which governments will hold platforms accountable for AI-generated content. Any increase in enforcement within the nation may have significant consequences for international technology firms operating in various jurisdictions.

The directive arises as Musk’s X continues to legally challenge certain components of India’s content regulation laws, contending that federal government takedown powers risk encroachment, even while the platform has complied with most blocking orders. Concurrently, Grok has seen increasing usage by X users for instant fact-checking and commentary on news stories, rendering its outputs more visible — and politically charged — than those of standalone AI systems.

X and xAI did not respond promptly to inquiries regarding the Indian government’s directive.

Transitioning into your initial studio apartment can be thrilling, yet it might also seem somewhat daunting. You soon understand how much your former housemates contributed with items you overlooked, such as light bulbs, smoke detectors, and even a vacuum cleaner. 

To enhance your new environment and make it feel homier, here are several essential gadgets that can truly assist you.

SimpliSafe Home Security System – $282.94

Investing in a home security system is a significant step toward ensuring your peace of mind in a new apartment. SimpliSafe presents an easily installed configuration that’s ideal for renters. The setup doesn’t require any tools, which is a major advantage for renters since you can attach sensors to doors and windows using adhesive pads without the need for drilling.

The initial kit is specifically designed for smaller spaces and comes with everything necessary for fundamental home security: a base station, a wireless keypad, a motion sensor, and an entry sensor. You can also purchase extra sensors — including glass-break, water, and temperature sensors — and cameras as desired.

SimpliSafe provides two monitoring alternatives. You can either manage the system yourself or select professional monitoring through a subscription plan starting at $23 per month. This feature includes round-the-clock coverage, so if an alarm goes off, SimpliSafe will contact you or dispatch the authorities if you’re unreachable. 

Kidde Smart Smoke Detector – $74.97

Speaking of safety, having a smoke detector is crucial. 

Kidde’s Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detector is highly rated due to its ability to send alerts straight to your smartphone. Another impressive feature is its design aimed at minimizing false alarms, such as those triggered by cooking smoke.

Recently, Kidde has upgraded its alarms with Amazon’s Ring technology, allowing push notifications via the Ring app for added convenience.

Eufy Robot Vacuum

A robotic vacuum can simplify the cleaning process. Whether you’re aiming to keep hardwood floors clean, deep cleaning upholstery, or tackling pet hair, Eufy is a well-respected brand that can streamline your chores. 

Depending on your needs, there are various models like the E28, featuring advanced capabilities such as a HydroJet system for washing floors, hot air drying, and automatic self-emptying. It’s higher-priced at approximately $1,399.99, but if you’re watching your budget, the E20, which performs essential functions, is a strong option at $649.99.

Dyson’s HushJet Purifier – $349.99

Clean air is crucial, yet urban areas can make it challenging to open your apartment windows due to pollution. Furthermore, if your neighbors frequently cook, you might encounter various unwanted odors. An air purifier can greatly enhance your indoor air quality.

This distinct compact gadget from Dyson delivers effective performance, though it is somewhat expensive. However, it operates quietly, and the filter’s lifespan of up to five years offers great value, reducing the frequency of filter purchases. Additionally, an app is available to monitor air quality.

Hatch Sunrise Alarm – $169.99

Without a roommate moving around in the early morning, rising can be quite a challenge. If conventional phone alarms don’t suffice, the Hatch Restore 3 is an excellent solution. This sunrise alarm gently wakes you by gradually intensifying the light. It also features soothing sleep sounds, a bedside light, and a dimmable clock designed to be non-intrusive.

Yogasleep Sound Machine – $54.99

If you’re noise-sensitive or reside in a pet-friendly building with frequent disturbances, a sound machine is ideal. Yogasleep has earned a reputation for dependability throughout the years, making it a preferred option for muffling unwanted noise and fostering a tranquil atmosphere.

Philips Hue Smart Lights

Establishing a warm environment in your first apartment is crucial, and smart light bulbs provide an excellent means to customize both brightness and hue. Another perk is that they can be operated through an app or voice assistant, simplifying the process of setting the perfect illumination for movie nights, dinner gatherings, or late-night reading.

Philips Hue is a trusted name in smart lighting offering a variety of widely used products. Users highly value the app’s functionalities, which facilitate turning lights on and off, changing their colors, and creating lighting scenes for various times of day. A standout feature allows users to upload an image, and the app will generate a new scene based on that color scheme.

Starter kits are available starting from $79.99, while a pair of bulbs typically costs about $49.98.

Leviton’s Smart Dimmer Plug – $24.99

Smart plugs enable control over any device connected to them through a mobile application or voice commands. They offer enhanced convenience, such as turning off your coffee maker when you’re not at home or scheduling when your devices should operate. Additionally, they assist in lowering energy usage.

A standout choice is Leviton’s Decora D23LP smart plug, compatible with major smart home systems like Amazon Alexa, Apple Home, and Google Home. This plug allows you to not only switch connected devices on and off but also to dim them as necessary. You can manage the plug through the My Leviton app.

Lumi Max Portable Projector – $399

A compact, lightweight projector that stands upright is ideal for limited spaces and can be conveniently stored after use. Look for models powered by Google TV, as they offer access to over 10,000 applications, 700,000 films and programs, along with 800 free live TV channels. Setting it up is straightforward with a Google account, and it comes with a remote control and carrying case.

Ninja Air Fryer – $79

If you’re preparing meals for yourself in a small kitchen, an air fryer is invaluable. It enables you to create everything from crispy chicken wings to perfectly roasted vegetables while keeping your cooking space clean. The Ninja Air Fryer is an excellent selection for affordable, efficient cooking.

Tesla’s yearly sales have declined for the second consecutive year, driven by the withdrawal of the federal tax incentive in the U.S. and increased competition from Chinese manufacturers.

In 2025, Tesla delivered 1.63 million vehicles worldwide, reflecting a 9% decrease from 1.79 million in 2024, based on data released by the company. Significantly, around 50,850 of these vehicles fall under the category of “other models,” which includes the Cybertruck along with the older Model X and Model S.

Tesla documented fourth-quarter sales of 418,227, marking a 15.6% decline from the same quarter last year and surpassing analysts’ expectations significantly. Following the New Year holiday, Tesla’s stock fell more than 2% as the market opened.

Once the forefront of global EV sales, Tesla has faced a decrease in market share in Europe and China due to the ascent of Chinese rivals. China’s BYD, which sold 2.26 million EVs in 2025, has now secured the top position in global EV sales. Additionally, Tesla is encountering growing competition in the U.S., although interestingly, not from Chinese automakers that are restricted from selling vehicles in the region.

However, the removal of the $7,500 U.S. federal tax incentive appears to have inflicted the most significant damage in the fourth quarter. In the third quarter, Tesla achieved a record 497,099 vehicle sales—a 29% rise from the previous quarter—as customers hurried to purchase EVs before the federal EV tax credit was eliminated. Since then, sales have declined despite attempts to attract buyers.

Tesla’s drop in sales occurs as CEO Elon Musk seeks to shift the company’s focus from producing and selling EVs to exploring AI and robotics. Musk’s vision suggests profitability can be found in “sustainable abundance,” a phrase used throughout the company’s recent Master Plan IV, which describes a framework of sustainable products, spanning transport, energy generation, battery storage, and robotics.

Nevertheless, the majority of Tesla’s revenue still stems from its EV sector. For instance, Tesla reported $28 billion in revenue for the third quarter, with $21.2 billion originating from EV sales.

No other corporation has taken advantage of the AI boom as successfully as Nvidia. Its profits, earnings, and liquid assets have surged dramatically since the launch of ChatGPT over three years ago — alongside the numerous generative AI products that have emerged since. The company’s stock value has skyrocketed, elevating it to a market cap of $4.6 trillion. 

As the premier manufacturer of high-performance GPUs, Nvidia has leveraged its expanding wealth to make substantial investments in startups, particularly within the AI sector. 

According to PitchBook data, Nvidia has been involved in nearly 67 venture capital transactions in 2025, surpassing the 54 deals it finalized in all of 2024. These figures do not account for investments made through its dedicated corporate VC fund, NVentures, which also significantly ramped up its investment activity during this time. (PitchBook indicates that NVentures participated in 30 deals this year, compared to just one in 2022.)  

Nvidia has communicated that the purpose of its corporate investments is to enhance the AI ecosystem by supporting startups it views as “game changers and market makers.”  

Below is a compilation of startups that secured funding rounds exceeding $100 million since 2023, in which Nvidia is listed as an investor, arranged from highest to lowest amount raised in each round. 

This list illustrates the extensive reach Nvidia has established within the tech sector, extending beyond simply providing its products.

The billion-dollar-round club

OpenAI: Nvidia supported the ChatGPT developer for the first time in October 2024, reportedly contributing a $100 million investment as part of an enormous $6.6 billion round that appraised the company at $157 billion. This investment was considerably lesser than contributions from OpenAI’s other supporters, notably Thrive, which injected $1.3 billion according to The New York Times. While PitchBook data suggests Nvidia did not join OpenAI’s $40 billion funding round concluded in March, the firm announced in September that it intends to invest up to $100 billion in OpenAI over time, forming a strategic partnership aimed at establishing extensive AI infrastructure. Nvidia later disclosed in its quarterly reports that it might not entirely follow through, mentioning, “There is no assurance that any investment will be completed on expected terms, if at all.”

Anthropic: In November 2025, Nvidia executed its initial direct investment in the AI lab, pledging up to $10 billion as part of a strategic round that included a $5 billion contribution from Microsoft. Under a “circular” spending agreement, Anthropic vowed to allocate $30 billion for Microsoft Azure compute capacity while also acquiring Nvidia’s forthcoming Grace Blackwell and Vera Rubin systems.

Cursor: In November, Nvidia made its first strategic investment in the AI-driven code assistant, participating in a significant $2.3 billion Series D round that was co-led by Accel and Coatue. This deal valued Cursor at $29.3 billion, reflecting an almost 15-fold increase since the beginning of the year. While Nvidia has long been an enterprise client, this round marked its official entry as an equity holder alongside Google.

xAI: In 2024, OpenAI attempted to dissuade its investors from funding any of its competitors. Nonetheless, Nvidia took part in the $6 billion round for Elon Musk’s xAI last December. Furthermore, Nvidia plans to invest up to $2 billion in the equity portion of xAI’s expected $20 billion funding round, as reported by Bloomberg, structured to facilitate xAI’s acquisition of more Nvidia equipment. 

Mistral AI: Nvidia backed Mistral for the third time when the French-based large language model (LLM) developer secured a €1.7 billion (approximately $2 billion) Series C at a €11.7 billion ($13.5 billion) post-money valuation in September.   

Reflection AI: In October, Nvidia emerged as one of the primary investors in Reflection AI, contributing to a $2 billion funding round that appraised the one-year-old startup at $8 billion. Reflection AI is positioning itself as a U.S.-based rival to Chinese DeepSeek, whose open-source LLM provides a cost-effective alternative to proprietary models from companies like OpenAI and Anthropic. 

Thinking Machines Lab: Nvidia was among numerous investors who supported former OpenAI chief technology officer Mira Murati’s Thinking Machines Lab’s $2 billion seed round. This funding, officially disclosed in July, valued the nascent AI startup at $12 billion. 

Inflection: Nvidia’s initial major AI investment also yielded one of the more peculiar (but increasingly commonplace) outcomes. In June 2023, Nvidia led several prominent investments in Inflection’s $1.3 billion round, a company co-founded by Mustafa Suleyman, the renowned founder of DeepMind. Less than a year later, Microsoft recruited Inflection’s founders, paying $620 million for a non-exclusive technology license, leaving the company with a notably reduced workforce and an uncertain future. 

Crusoe: In October, the chipmaker took part in a $1.4 billion Series E round that appraised the AI data center developer at $10 billion. Nvidia initially supported the company in late 2024 during its Series D. Crusoe is a crucial infrastructure partner for the ‘Stargate’ initiative, constructing extensive data center facilities in Texas and Wyoming to be leased to Oracle specifically for OpenAI’s workloads.

Nscale: Following the startup’s $1.1 billion round in September, Nvidia joined Nscale’s $433 million SAFE funding in October. This arrangement ensures future equity for investors. Nscale, which originated in 2023 after spinning out of the Australian cryptocurrency mining entity Arkon Energy, is creating data centers in the U.K. and Norway for OpenAI’s Stargate project. 

Wayve: In May 2024, Nvidia contributed to a $1.05 billion round for the U.K.-based startup, which is developing a self-learning system for autonomous vehicles. The startup informed TechCrunch in September that Nvidia is expected to invest an additional $500 million in Wayve. Wayve is testing its vehicles across the U.K. and the San Francisco Bay Area. 

Figure AI: In September, Nvidia participated in Figure AI’s Series C funding round of over $1 billion, which valued the humanoid robotics startup at $39 billion. Earlier, the chipmaker had first invested in Figure in February 2024 when the company raised a $675 million Series B round at a $2.6 billion valuation. 

Scale AI: In May 2024, Nvidia joined forces with Accel and other tech behemoths like Amazon and Meta to invest $1 billion in Scale AI, which provides data-labeling services for training AI models. The round valued the San Francisco-based firm at nearly $14 billion. In June, Meta invested $14.3 billion for a 49% stake in Scale and recruited the company’s co-founder and CEO Alexandr Wang, along with several other key employees from Scale. 

The many-hundreds-of-millions-of-dollars club

Commonwealth Fusion: The chipmaker invested in the nuclear fusion-energy startup’s $863 million funding round in August. The deal also attracted investors like Google and Breakthrough Energy Ventures, valuing the company at $3 billion. 

Cohere: The chipmaker has supported the enterprise LLM provider Cohere across various funding rounds, including the $500 million Series D, which closed in August, valuing Cohere at $6.8 billion. Nvidia first engaged with the Toronto-based startup in 2023. 

Perplexity: Nvidia initially invested in Perplexity in November 2023 and has actively participated in most subsequent funding rounds of the AI search engine startup, including the $500 million round closed in December 2024. The chipmaker was also involved in the company’s July funding round, which valued Perplexity at $18 billion. However, Nvidia did not take part in the startup’s subsequent $200 million fundraising in September, which elevated the company’s valuation to $20 billion, according to PitchBook data. 

Poolside: In October 2024, the AI coding assistant startup Poolside disclosed it had raised $500 million led by Bain Capital Ventures, with Nvidia participating in the round, which valued the AI startup at $3 billion. 

Lambda: The AI cloud provider Lambda, which offers services for model training, collected a $480 million Series D at an estimated $2.5 billion valuation in February. The round was co-led by SGW and Andra Capital, with participation from Nvidia, ARK Invest, and others. A notable part of Lambda’s business involves leasing servers powered by Nvidia’s GPUs. 

Black Forest Labs: Nvidia took part in a $300 million Series B for the German startup responsible for the “Flux” image generation models in December. The round, which was co-led by Salesforce Ventures and Anjney Midha (AMP), valued the company at $3.25 billion.

CoreWeave: Although CoreWeave is no longer a startup but a public enterprise, Nvidia had invested when it was still emerging, back in April 2023. At that time, CoreWeave raised $221 million in funding. Nvidia continues to hold a significant stake. 

Together AI: In February, Nvidia participated in the $305 million Series B for this firm, which provides cloud-based frameworks for developing AI models. The round valued Together AI at $3.3 billion and was co-led by Prosperity7, a Saudi venture capital firm, and General Catalyst. Nvidia first backed the company in 2023.  

Firmus Technologies: In September, Firmus Technologies, the Singapore-based data center company, secured AU$330 million (approx. $215 million) in funding at an AU$1.85 billion ($1.2 billion) valuation from a group of investors, including Nvidia. Firmus is constructing an energy-efficient “AI factory” in Tasmania, an island state of Australia, originally providing cooling solutions for Bitcoin mining. 

Uniphore: In October, Nvidia teamed up with fellow tech giants AMD, Snowflake, and Databricks to lead a $260 million Series F round into this Business AI firm. Uniphore’s multimodal platform assists enterprises in automating complex workflows and deploying “AI agents” across customer service, sales, and marketing.

Sakana AI: In September 2024, Nvidia invested in the Japan-based startup, which focuses on training economical generative AI models using limited datasets. The startup raised a sizable Series A round of roughly $214 million at a valuation of $1.5 billion. Sakana secured an additional $135 million at a $2.65 billion valuation in November, but Nvidia did not partake in that round.

Nuro: In August, Nvidia participated in a $203 million funding round for the self-driving delivery startup, which valued Nuro at $6 billion, a notable 30% decline from its zenith of $8.6 billion valuation in 2021. 

Imbue: The AI research organization that claims to be developing reasoning and coding AI systems raised a $200 million round in September 2023 from investors, including Nvidia, Astera Institute, and former Cruise CEO Kyle Vogt. 

Waabi: In June 2024, the autonomous trucking startup garnered a $200 million Series B round that was co-led by existing investors Uber and Khosla Ventures. Other participants included Nvidia, Volvo Group Venture Capital, and Porsche Automobil Holding SE. 

Deals of over a $100 million

Ayar Labs: In December 2024, Nvidia engaged in the $155 million round of Ayar Labs, a firm specializing in optical interconnects to enhance AI computation and energy efficiency. This marked the third occasion Nvidia supported the startup. 

Kore.ai: The enterprise-focused AI chatbot startup raised $150 million in December 2023. Nvidia was among the investors along with FTV Capital, Vistara Growth, and Sweetwater Private Equity participating in the funding round. 

Sandbox AQ: In April, Nvidia, alongside Google, BNP Paribas, and others, contributed $150 million to Sandbox AQ, a startup that devises large quantitative models (LQMs) for managing intricate numerical analysis and statistical calculations. This investment elevated Sandbox AQ’s Series E total to $450 million and the company’s valuation to $5.75 billion. 

Hippocratic AI: This enterprise is developing large language models tailored for healthcare, announcing in January that it raised a $141 million Series B at a valuation of $1.64 billion, spearheaded by Kleiner Perkins. Nvidia took part in this round alongside returning investors Andreessen Horowitz, General Catalyst, and others. The firm asserts that its AI tools can manage non-diagnostic patient-facing functions such as pre-operative tasks, remote monitoring, and organizing appointments. Hippocratic later secured an additional $126 million at a valuation of $3.5 billion in November, although Nvidia did not participate in that fundraising.

Weka: In May 2024, Nvidia added to a $140 million round for AI-native data management platform Weka. The round appraised the Silicon Valley firm at $1.6 billion. 

Runway: In April, Nvidia joined the funding for Runway’s $308 million round, led by General Atlantic, establishing the startup that specializes in generative AI models for media production at a valuation of $3.55 billion, per PitchBook data. The chipmaker has been investing in the company since 2023.  

Bright Machines: In June 2024, Nvidia took part in a $126 million Series C for Bright Machines, an AI-powered robotics and software firm. 

Enfabrica: In September 2023, Nvidia invested in networking chip developer Enfabrica’s $125 million Series B. The startup later raised another $115 million in November 2024, though Nvidia did not join that round. In September, Nvidia reportedly allocated over $900 million to recruit Enfabrica’s CEO and team while licensing its technology, structured as an “acquihire.”

Reka AI: In July, AI research lab Reka secured $110 million in a fundraising round that included Snowflake and Nvidia. The deal tripled the startup’s valuation to over $1 billion, according to Bloomberg.    

This post was first published in January 2025.

Soon after reintroducing the Pebble smart watch and debuting an affordable AI smart ring, Pebble is preparing yet another new gadget: the Pebble Round 2. As implied by its title, this new device is yet another rendition of the Pebble smartwatch, but featuring a rounded display that grants it a more refined appearance. Nevertheless, similar to other Pebble products, this latest watch remains budget-friendly at $199.

Pebble manages to keep its smartwatch prices low by restricting their functionalities. Regarding the new Pebble Round 2, it provides basic health and fitness tracking, such as step counting and sleep analysis, but lacks a heart rate sensor or additional features that would position it as a fitness or sports watch alternative.

The compromise results in extended battery duration — the Pebble Round 2 is expected to last between 10 to 14 days before requiring a charge.

Like the recently released Pebble Time 2, the Pebble Round 2 represents the company’s revival of an earlier smartwatch. Back in 2015, Pebble introduced its inaugural rounded watch, the Pebble Time Round, which at the time was regarded as the slimmest smartwatch in the industry.

The updated version retains that sleek profile, measuring just 8.1mm in thickness, compared to the original’s 7.5mm.

“[The Pebble Time Round] was undoubtedly one of my preferred Pebble models, but it had its flaws,” stated Pebble’s founder Eric Migicovsky during a conversation with TechCrunch. “There were several aspects we could enhance, primarily the oversized bezel surrounding the device.”

To create the original rounded watch face, the team employed an octagonal piece of glass with smoothed edges, which were obscured by a sizable bezel. However, the outcome was a gadget lacking a sufficiently large display. Technology has advanced since then, naturally; the new device’s larger screen permits a better view of text. The revised design also appears more aesthetically pleasing.

The touchscreen has now evolved into a 1.3″ color e-paper display (260 x 260 pixels at 283 DPI — or double the pixel density of the original Pebble Time Round). Additionally, the screen is equipped with a backlight, making it visible in low-light conditions. Internally, the Round 2 operates on the open-source Pebble OS.

The watch features dual microphones, enabling voice input and message replies. (Currently, this functionality is limited to Android due to Apple’s limitations. However, iOS support will be implemented in the EU soon.)

The side buttons facilitate actions like silencing calls, controlling music, navigating, returning, and scrolling.

Migicovsky highlights one of the benefits of buttons: they permit use of the watch without needing to look down. “For instance, if someone calls while you’re in a meeting, and you prefer not to answer, you won’t even want to check your watch. You can always remember that the bottom button rejects the call. Or if you’re listening to music with AirPods and don’t want to fuss with them or peer at your phone, you know the center button pauses the music.”

The watch is equipped with a stainless steel chassis, an accelerometer, and a magnetometer, along with a silicone watch strap and a Pebble charging dongle. Leather bands will also be available for purchase separately.

Three color variations of the watch are available, each supporting different band sizes. The matte black model comes with a 20mm quick-release band; the silver variant supports either a 14mm or 20mm band; and the polished rose gold model is limited to a 14mm band.

The Pebble Round 2 can access thousands of applications and watch faces from the Pebble Appstore, though developers must update their applications to accommodate the rounded display using the provided SDK. Among the available applications are AI assistants that support Claude and other well-known assistants.

Pebble is also developing AI functionalities for its devices. The company has recently introduced an AI smart ring capable of recording audio and transcribing discussions. When questioned, Migicovsky indicated that similar capabilities will be available on Pebble watches in the future.

The new Pebble Round 2 will launch for pre-order on January 2 via Pebble’s website, with shipping anticipated in May. Customers who have pre-ordered the Pebble Time 2 will have the option to transition to the Pebble Round 2 if they wish.

Annually, TechCrunch’s Startup Battlefield pitch contest attracts thousands of hopefuls. We narrow down those submissions to the top 200 finalists, from which the top 20 present on the main stage for a chance to win the Startup Battlefield Cup and a monetary reward of $100,000. However, the 180 other startups also impressed us immensely in their categories and engage in their own pitch event.

Here’s the complete roster of the logistics, manufacturing, and materials Startup Battlefield 200 selections, along with insights on their inclusion in the competition. 

Logistics

GigU 

What it does: This application aids ride-share and delivery drivers in assessing which trips will yield the highest earnings.  

Why it’s noteworthy: It tackles a significant concern many drivers face, namely that trips often fail to justify their earnings given the effort involved. The firm aims for this application to assist drivers in boosting their income and personalizing their ride-share experience.  

Glīd 

What it does: Glīd is developing autonomous vehicles designed to transport freight seamlessly within railyards. 

Why it’s noteworthy: Glīd clinched the 2025 TechCrunch Startup Battlefield title for its innovative system that proficiently addresses an issue often neglected by the autonomous vehicle sector. 

Kinisi  

What it does: This robotics firm specializes in sensory technology with rapid processing capabilities. 

Why it’s noteworthy: Its straightforward robot design, utilizing cutting-edge LLM technology, enables it to address warehouse challenges intelligently and safely.  

Manufacturing, materials, and industrial 

CloEE 

What it does: CloEE provides a manufacturing platform that leverages AI to assess millions of data points pertaining to machine performance. 

Why it’s noteworthy: The deployment of AI by CloEE refines manufacturing methods for enhanced efficiency, benefiting both production and equipment maintenance. 

CosmicBrain AI

What it does: CosmicBrain delivers a no-code/low-code platform aimed at training robotic systems. 

Why it’s noteworthy: For robots to become common fixtures in daily life, we require accessible training methods for tasks that do not necessitate extensive specialized expertise. 

Delft Circuits 

What it does: Delft Circuits has innovated a new type of network cable tailored for quantum computing applications. 

Why it’s noteworthy: Delft Circuits acknowledges that quantum computing demands a unique approach that necessitates specially designed materials for its cabling systems, including tailored microwave and thermal performance. 

Evolinq 

What it does: Evolinq provides AI-driven agents that manage procurement processes for enterprises.  

Why it’s noteworthy: Evolinq aims to replicate buyer workflows and streamline areas such as supplier interactions without necessitating intricate integration for activation. 

ExoMatter 

What it does: ExoMatter serves as an AI platform that assists R&D teams focused on material science in evaluating various materials. 

Why it’s noteworthy: Instead of undergoing expensive trial and error processes when investigating new materials, ExoMatter functions as a platform that employs AI to aid scientists in screening inorganic crystalline materials using criteria like performance, sustainability, and costs.

Kamet AI 

What it does: Kamet presents an AI analytical system tailored for manufacturing and warehouse environments. 

Why it’s noteworthy: The tool from the company employs predictive AI to identify inefficiencies in processes and equipment, targeting intricate industrial scenarios that either lower expenses or enhance output. 

Koidra 

What it does: Koidra introduces an AI-based automation management platform specifically for indoor agriculture. 

Why it’s noteworthy: Koidra claims that its platform incorporates physics-aware AI technology that is particularly suited for heavily automated industrial environments, including indoor farming operations. 

Mbodi 

What it does: Mbodi provides a platform capable of readily teaching any industrial robot new competencies.  

Why it’s noteworthy: Mbodi has developed a cloud-to-edge system that seamlessly integrates with existing robotic technology infrastructures, enabling quicker task acquisition for robots. 

MycoFutures 

What it does: MycoFutures produces a material akin to leather, cultivated from mushroom roots. 

Why it’s noteworthy: In contrast to synthetic pleather, this mycelium-based leather is compostable, free from harmful chemicals, and is designed to mimic the aesthetics and versatility of traditional leather. 

OKOsix 

What it does: OKOsix has developed a biodegradable material aimed at substituting plastics. 

Why it’s noteworthy: Differentiating from other biodegradable plastic substitutes, this material from the company emphasizes durability. 

Ravel 

What it does: Ravel has pioneered a method to deconstruct blended textile materials back into their original mono-materials. 

Why it’s noteworthy: Ravel addresses a major pollution issue by making blended textiles recyclable, enabling their plastics to be transformed back into yarn or other clothing items. 

Strong by Form 

What it does: Strong by Form has created engineered wood that possesses the strength necessary to substitute concrete and steel in structural flooring applications. 

Why it’s noteworthy: The organization has formulated a material that enables architects and engineers to replace concrete—known for its significant carbon footprint—with a lighter, more sustainable alternative. 

Xronos

What it does: Xronos provides a platform designed to accelerate the creation and deployment of robotics or automation solutions. 

Why it’s noteworthy: Xronos is built on open-source principles and utilizes deterministic development, ensuring that the executed and anticipated robotic actions will behave consistently and reliably each time.

If 2025 marked a vibe check for AI, then 2026 is poised to be the year when the technology becomes truly functional. The attention is already turning from constructing larger language models to the more challenging task of making AI practical. This means implementing smaller models in suitable areas, integrating intelligence into physical devices, and creating systems that blend seamlessly into human processes. 

The specialists consulted by TechCrunch view 2026 as a period of evolution, transitioning from brute-force scaling to exploring new architectures, from impressive demonstrations to focused applications, and from agents that claim autonomy to those that genuinely enhance human work. 

The celebration isn’t finished, but the sector is beginning to come down to earth.

Scaling laws won’t suffice

In 2012, the AlexNet paper by Alex Krizhevsky, Ilya Sutskever, and Geoffrey Hinton illustrated how AI systems can “learn” to identify objects in images by analyzing millions of examples. The method was computationally intensive but feasible thanks to GPUs. The outcome? A decade of intense AI research as scholars endeavored to create new architectures for varied tasks.

This peak occurred around 2020 with OpenAI’s launch of GPT-3, demonstrating that merely enlarging the model by 100 times unlocked capabilities like coding and reasoning without needing explicit training. This signified the shift into what Kian Katanforoosh, CEO and founder of AI agent platform Workera, describes as the “era of scaling”: a time characterized by the belief that increased compute, more data, and larger transformer models would essentially lead to the next significant advances in AI.

Currently, many researchers believe the AI industry is reaching the limits of scaling laws and will revert to a phase of renewed research.

Yann LeCun, former chief AI scientist at Meta, has consistently argued against a heavy dependence on scaling, emphasizing the necessity of developing improved architectures. Meanwhile, Sutskever mentioned in a recent interview that contemporary models are plateauing and that pre-training outcomes have stagnated, suggesting a demand for new concepts.  

“It is likely that in the next five years, we will discover a superior architecture that significantly outperforms transformers,” Katanforoosh stated. “If we don’t, we can’t anticipate substantial enhancements in the models.”

Occasionally, less is more

Large language models excel in generalizing knowledge; however, many experts believe the upcoming wave of enterprise AI adoption will hinge on smaller, more nimble language models that can be customized for specific solutions. 

“Fine-tuned SLMs will become the prominent trend, becoming standard among established AI companies in 2026, as the cost and performance benefits will favor their use over generic LLMs,” stated Andy Markus, AT&T’s chief data officer, to TechCrunch. “Businesses are increasingly depending on SLMs since, when properly fine-tuned, they can match the accuracy of the larger, generalized models for enterprise applications while also being significantly more cost-effective and faster.”

This perspective has been previously advocated by French open-weight AI firm Mistral, which claims its smaller models outperform larger counterparts on various benchmarks post fine-tuning. 

“The efficiency, affordability, and flexibility of SLMs make them ideal for specific applications requiring high precision,” remarked Jon Knisley, an AI strategist at ABBYY, based in Austin. 

While Markus believes SLMs will play a crucial role in the agentic age, Knisley suggests that the characteristics of small models make them more suitable for deployment on local devices, “a trend hastened by improvements in edge computing.”

Learning from experience

Humans acquire knowledge not just through language but also by experiencing how the world operates. However, LLMs don’t truly comprehend the world; they simply predict the subsequent word or concept. This is why numerous researchers assert that the next substantial advancement will originate from world models: AI systems that learn how objects move and interact in three-dimensional spaces, allowing them to make forecasts and take actions. 

Signs are pointing to 2026 being significant for world models. LeCun departed Meta to establish his own lab focused on world models and is reportedly aiming for a $5 billion valuation. Google’s DeepMind has been diligently working on Genie, and in August rolled out its most recent model that creates real-time interactive general-purpose world models. In addition to startups like Decart and Odyssey showcasing their developments, Fei-Fei Li’s World Labs has unveiled its first commercial world model, Marble. New entities like General Intuition secured a $134 million seed round in October to educate agents in spatial reasoning, and video generation pioneer Runway released its inaugural world model, GWM-1, in December. 

While researchers see significant promise in robotics and autonomy over the long run, the immediate impact is likely to manifest first in the gaming industry. PitchBook forecasts that the market for world models in gaming could surge from $1.2 billion between 2022 and 2025 to $276 billion by 2030, propelled by the technology’s capability to create interactive environments and more realistic non-player characters. 

Pim de Witte, founder of General Intuition, mentioned to TechCrunch that virtual settings may not only revolutionize gaming but also serve as essential testing environments for the next generation of foundational models.

Agentic nation

Agents fell short of the expectations in 2025, largely because linking them to the systems where actual work occurs is challenging. Without a means to access tools and context, most agents remained confined to pilot workflows. 

Anthropic’s Model Context Protocol (MCP), referred to as a “USB-C for AI,” enables AI agents to interface with external tools such as databases, search engines, and APIs, filling the gap and is rapidly becoming the standard. OpenAI and Microsoft have publicly adopted MCP, and Anthropic recently contributed it to the Linux Foundation’s newly formed Agentic AI Foundation, which aims to standardize open-source agentic tools. Google has also initiated its own managed MCP servers to connect AI agents with its products and services. 

With MCP alleviating the challenges of linking agents to real systems, 2026 is expected to be the year when agentic workflows transition from demonstrations to everyday implementation. 

Rajeev Dham, a partner at Sapphire Ventures, states that these innovations will enable agent-first solutions to assume “system-of-record roles” across various sectors. 

“As voice agents take on more comprehensive tasks like intake and customer communication, they will also begin to establish the underlying core systems,” Dham observed. “We will see this across diverse fields such as home services, proptech, and healthcare, in addition to horizontal functions like sales, IT, and support.” 

Augmentation, not automation

While increased agentic workflows may raise concerns about potential layoffs, Katanforoosh from Workera isn’t convinced that narrative holds true. 

“2026 will be the year for humans,” he asserted. 

In 2024, every AI company predicted they would eliminate jobs due to a reduced need for humans. However, the technology isn’t ready for that yet, and such rhetoric isn’t popular in an uncertain economy. Katanforoosh believes that next year, we will realize that “AI has not functioned as independently as we believed,” and the discourse will shift towards how AI enhances human workflows instead of replacing them. 

“And I anticipate that many companies will begin hiring,” he continued, pointing out that he expects new roles to emerge in AI governance, transparency, safety, and data management. “I am optimistic about unemployment averaging below 4% next year.”

“People prefer to operate above the API, not beneath it, and I believe 2026 will be significant for this,” de Witte remarked.

Becoming physical

Experts suggest that technological advancements such as small models, world models, and edge computing will facilitate more physical applications of machine learning. 

“Physical AI will go mainstream in 2026 as new categories of AI-enhanced devices, including robotics, autonomous vehicles, drones, and wearables begin entering the market,” stated Vikram Taneja, head of AT&T Ventures, to TechCrunch. 

Although autonomous vehicles and robotics are evident use cases for physical AI that will undoubtedly thrive in 2026, the necessary training and implementation remain costly. On the other hand, wearables offer a more affordable gateway with consumer acceptance. Smart glasses like Meta’s Ray Bans are beginning to ship with assistants that can respond to inquiries about what the user is observing, and emerging formats such as AI-infused health rings and smartwatches are normalizing continuous, on-body inference.

“Connectivity providers will strive to enhance their network infrastructure to support this new wave of devices, and those adaptable in their connectivity offerings will be best aligned for success,” Taneja noted.