Techin' Geek

Once again, AI dominated the conversation at the latest YC Demo Day showcasing. Almost 190 startups were part of Y Combinator’s Winter ’26 cohort and presented their innovations during a Demo Day held on Tuesday. 

These startups are developing products in sectors like law, transportation, and healthcare.  

I must confess, I did not manage to listen to every single pitch due to the large size of the cohort and the format available for this year’s Demo Day to the media. YC released the pitch videos sequentially, approximately 20 minutes after the founders’ presentations (instead of a livestream or an invite-only session).  

Instead, I researched all 190 startups that presented and spent the day watching pitches from those that captured my interest, eventually narrowing it down to the 16 that emerged as the most noteworthy startups from this overloaded YC cohort. 

ARC Prize Foundation
What it does: Establishes benchmarks to assess progress toward AGI.  

Why it’s interesting: A nonprofit in YC! Yet, when organizations like OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google utilize some of its benchmarks, it becomes clear why it was included. This foundation is dedicated to fostering open-source AGI research by organizing competitions and granting research funds. A significant motivation behind this AI revolution is to achieve AGI (which Nvidia’s CEO Jensen Huang asserts has already been reached), and it will become a historical reference for monitoring how close we are to AI systems possessing general intelligence. 

Asimov
What it does: Gathers human movement data to train humanoids  

Why it’s interesting: People globally submit videos of themselves executing movements and tasks to this company, which converts them into datasets useful for training robots. This is part of a movement striving to make humanoids more functional, exploring applications beyond supply chains and entertainment. I am optimistic about humanoid technology, even if our “Rosey the Robot” age may still be far off. Leveraging data to instruct humanoids on the nuances and — dare I say, grace — of human movement could help them appear less robotic while performing tasks.  

Avoice
What it does: Streamlines the monotonous non-design tasks for architectural firms  

Why it’s interesting: It’s not routine to encounter new tech aimed at the architecture field. The founders have noted that this market is underrepresented (albeit rich in potential). This tool employs AI to automate tasks often viewed as tedious by creative professionals like architects, such as reviewing specifications, drawings, contracts, and proposals.  

Button Computer
What it does: A wearable AI  

Why it’s interesting: As the world anticipates OpenAI’s product from its acquisition of Johnny Ive’s company, everyone is banking on wearable AI. Two former Apple employees (may I refer to them as that?) have united to introduce Button, essentially a diminutive computer, as explained by the founders, designed for AI. Button connects with apps such as email, Slack, and Salesforce, operating them through voice commands to execute specific tasks. The next essential hardware will likely take the form of an AI wearable, making it fascinating to observe the emerging innovations.  

CodeWisp 
What it does: Enables anyone to create games using AI  

Why it’s interesting: The founders assert that you simply instruct an AI on creating a game, and it will do so. That’s fun, imaginative, and exhilarating! As a child, I attempted to design games but found the process challenging and tedious, yet the thrill of creating one never dimmed. While vibe coding has surged in popularity for app development, tools like this simplify the creative execution considerably. Perhaps this will usher in the next phase in vibe creation.  

Crosslayer Labs
What it does: Facilitates the detection of website spoofing  

Why it’s interesting: The emergence of agentic tools has made it simpler for malicious entities to spoof websites, with scammers readily exploiting this technology. Crosslayer Labs assists its clients in identifying and monitoring their online environments to safeguard against this shade of rising internet threats.  

Doomersion  
What it does: Teaches languages while you doomscroll 

Why it’s interesting: We spend excessive amounts of time doomscrolling, cramming our brains with content that often annoys or dulls our mental faculties. This startup introduces an app that presents users with short videos, akin to how they would scroll on TikTok, in the language they wish to acquire. If there’s to be any significance to the content we flood into our minds throughout the day, what a clever way to achieve that. It merges something people can’t resist (hours spent on their devices swiping through content) with something as appealing as language acquisition. Très intéressant. 

Lexius
What it does: Incorporates advanced AI into security systems  

Why it’s interesting: This leverages AI to enhance existing security camera systems, allowing for detecting and reporting theft or falls, replacing a disjointed, primarily manual process. The startup claims it focuses on businesses utilizing cameras lacking AI capabilities, where while a camera may capture an event, companies face delays in taking necessary actions. 

Librar Labs
What it does: An AI-driven library management system tool  

Why it’s interesting: This is AI entering an industry often overlooked by tech — libraries. This startup has developed an AI-driven library management system aimed primarily at schools for inventory and cataloging purposes. As the founder emphasized during his pitch, competition in automating or innovating existing tools in this sector is minimal, making any new concept a candidate for “the next big thing.”  

Milliray
What it does: Radar system designed to track small drones  

Why it’s interesting: Defense technology is currently one of the most sought-after fields in tech. The founder of this venture stated that, currently, individuals are on-site doing everything possible to trace tiny drones, but human eyesight can overlook or confuse a small drone with a bird and vice versa. This startup employs sensors to accurately identify a tiny drone in the air. In light of current geopolitical circumstances, new technologies are essential — and unfolding — to ensure every nation stays proactive against potential threats.  

MouseCat
What it does: Utilizes AI to investigate fraud  

Why it’s interesting: AI serves as a valuable asset in professional tasks, and that rings true for individuals involved in fraud and scamming. This firm extracts data from large cloud sources like Databricks or Snowflake, evaluates consumer information and activities for any red flags, and provides recommendations on appropriate actions to take. AI-native tools such as this are crucial for keeping pace with the adverse implications that malicious AI can also incite.

Opalite Health
What it does: Employs AI to assist healthcare providers in communicating with non-English speakers 

Why it’s interesting: When two individuals can’t comprehend each other, much is left to interpretation. In the realm of healthcare, that could result in life-threatening situations. This AI medical translator facilitates the breakdown of language barriers, allowing healthcare providers to understand patients speaking different languages. In a global society (and in a diverse country like America), it’s crucial for individuals to receive necessary healthcare, regardless of language. Naturally, this concept isn’t entirely original, as several other startups and health tech firms provide similar solutions. 

Sequence Markets
What it does: Enables trading across diverse markets, such as crypto and predictions, within a single system.  

Why it’s interesting: As someone who prefers having everything consolidated, I appreciate the desire for a less fragmented trading experience in these markets. It’s akin to why I enjoy going to large retailers to view various brands (I like having all my options visible at once).  

ShoFo
What it does: A comprehensive video library 

Why it’s interesting: This startup markets itself as the “world’s video library,” which I find quite fascinating. Having grown up with YouTube and Tumblr, I recall how challenging search functionality was back then when looking for something specific. Although this serves as more of a custom video index to aid AI Labs in efficiently sourcing diverse datasets, I appreciate any tool that simplifies search and organization.  

Sonarly
What it does: Assists software in rectifying its production challenges  

Why it’s interesting: This startup is pioneering technology that sounds particularly impressive. It integrates with other monitoring systems, promising to minimize alert noise (a distraction from essential alerts), autonomously identifies root causes of issues, and proposes solutions or next steps for engineers. While there’s a growing emergence of AI code review startups (and that feature is becoming available from model creators), there should still be an opportunity for independent solutions once the code is deployed in production environments. This is yet another workflow aspect that founders are streamlining.  

Terranox AI
What it does: Employs AI to discover uranium deposits in North America   

Why it’s interesting: Uranium will be essential for driving the next generation of nuclear energy, as the founders of this venture pointed out. (Nuclear energy is generally regarded as safe today, though uranium itself is, of course, harmful — and the founder did not mention how it could be excavated safely.) These founders believe that nuclear energy will play a crucial role in supplying power to the numerous new data centers being established. The planet will need a significant amount of energy, from various sources, to support human aspirations amidst the AI revolution.  

On Thursday, Google revealed that its AI-driven “Live Translate” feature within Google Translate, which allows users to listen to real-time translations through their headphones, is now extending its availability to iOS and additional countries.

With this rollout, the feature can now be accessed on both iOS and Android in the U.S., India, Mexico, Germany, Spain, France, Nigeria, Italy, the United Kingdom, Japan, Bangladesh, and Thailand. Previously, it was exclusively on Android for users in the U.S., India, and Mexico.

This functionality effectively transforms any headphones into a one-way translation tool that operates in real time. According to Google, the real-time translation experience, powered by Google’s Gemini AI, preserves the tone, emphasis, and rhythm of each speaker. This enhances understanding of the dialogue and clarity regarding who is speaking.

The tech giant encourages users to leverage this feature for various scenarios, such as engaging in dinner conversations with relatives who speak a different language, or comprehending train announcements while in a foreign country.

This feature is compatible with any headphones and offers support for over 70 languages.

Users can initiate the feature by launching the Google Translate app, selecting the “Live Translate” option, and then linking their headphones.

The extension of Live Translate coincides with Google’s announcement of the global expansion of its AI-driven conversational search feature, Search Live, to all languages and regions where AI Mode is accessible. This means individuals in more than 200 countries and territories will now have access to the feature that was previously limited to the U.S. and India.

Launched in July 2025, Search Live enables users to direct their phone camera at objects for immediate assistance, facilitating dynamic conversations informed by visual context from the camera’s view. To access this feature, users should open the Google app on either Android or iOS and tap the Live icon found beneath the Search bar.

OpenAI has halted yet another initiative — at least temporarily. On Thursday, the Financial Times disclosed that the AI organization would be pausing plans to create an “erotic” version of ChatGPT “indefinitely.”

The suggested “adult mode,” initially proposed by CEO Sam Altman in October, stirred significant controversy among technology oversight groups and even within OpenAI’s own team. In January, a discussion between company leaders and their advisory council became intense, with one adviser warning that OpenAI could be on the brink of developing a “sexy suicide coach,” as reported earlier by The Wall Street Journal.

In light of all the backlash, the launch of the feature faced several delays.

FT mentions that there is currently no schedule for the erotic feature’s release. When approached for comments by TechCrunch, an OpenAI representative stated that the company had “nothing more to add.”

Adult mode is merely the latest endeavor that OpenAI has shelved in recent days as the AI behemoth sharpens its focus. On Tuesday, the firm discreetly revealed it would be deprioritizing Instant Checkout, a feature in ChatGPT aimed at transforming the chatbot into a purchasing platform for items from e-commerce sites. Following that, on Wednesday, the company unexpectedly announced the closure of Sora, its AI video generator, which had faced criticism for contributing to the surge of low-quality AI content online since its debut in 2024.

These adjustments come about a week after The Wall Street Journal reported OpenAI would embark on a “significant strategy shift” to move away from diversions in order to concentrate on its core objectives: business clientele and programmers.

Why has OpenAI chosen to eliminate distractions at this specific time? It may be responding to pressure from Anthropic, which has been diligently launching a range of coding and business tools in recent months — and has achieved notable success in attracting customers as a consequence.

The two firms have also been openly clashing over Pentagon contracts — a contest that seems to have favored OpenAI. Three weeks prior, it announced a $200 million deal with the Department of Defense, while Anthropic is currently embroiled in a legal struggle with the agency.

In summary, if recent events indicate anything, the trajectory of AI appears to be shifting away from adult content and memes toward a focus on business and defense.

On Thursday, two U.S. senators intensified their efforts against data centers and their energy consumption. Senators Josh Hawley and Elizabeth Warren reached out to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) with a letter requesting that it gather information on energy use by data centers — and the impact of that usage on the grid.

In their correspondence, the senators urged the EIA “to implement a mandatory annual reporting requirement for data centers and similar large consumers,” as stated in the letter reviewed by TechCrunch. “With electricity demand increasing rapidly after years of relative stagnation, the absence of reliable, standardized data on substantial energy consumption presents considerable challenges for effective grid management and oversight.” Wired was the first to cover this letter.

This letter is not the first attempt by lawmakers to impose new regulatory frameworks on data centers. On Wednesday, Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez announced their plans to propose legislation that would pause new data center developments until Congress can reach a consensus on AI regulation.

The energy demand from data centers has surged recently. For instance, Google’s data centers have seen their energy consumption double from 2020 to 2024. This pattern is unlikely to shift in the near term. By 2035, the projected new data centers will almost triple the sector’s energy demands.

The EIA is a federal agency responsible for collecting and analyzing information associated with the energy system — similar to a Census bureau for electric grids. It was founded in 1977 under the Department of Energy following the oil crises of the early 1970s.

For many years, the EIA has compiled extensive data on energy consumption in the U.S., encompassing costs, generation sources, and energy-efficiency initiatives. It tracks energy use across various sectors, though it only emphasizes four broad categories: residential, commercial, industrial, and transportation.

Hawley and Warren are additionally requesting that the EIA collect more detailed data on data centers, including variations in energy usage between AI computing tasks and standard cloud services.

The senators have outlined specific criteria regarding the desired data, such as hourly, yearly, and peak energy loads and the rates charged to companies. They are also interested in understanding any grid enhancements necessitated by the influx of new large loads, the funding for those upgrades, and whether data center clients are involved in demand response programs, where utilities compensate heavy users to reduce consumption for a certain timeframe.

The letter specifically mentions EIA administrator Tristan Abbey, who noted in December that the agency will be a “key participant” in gathering data on energy demand from data centers. Hawley and Warren have asked for a response to their letter by April 9.

It is possible that the process is already in motion, although the EIA has not publicly confirmed this. Amendments to the EIA surveys must pass through the Office of Management and Budget protocol, which includes a public comment period.

“We frequently receive requests for analysis. We get requests for a new product less often,” Abbey mentioned at the public event in December. “Launching a new survey from scratch takes approximately two years. However, there are existing authorities that could bypass the two-year process by conducting smaller-scope surveys that may yield clearer insights.”

Shield AI, a company specializing in autonomous military aircraft, has secured $1.5 billion in Series G financing, achieving a post-money valuation of $12.7 billion, as the company declared on Tuesday. The funding round was spearheaded by the private equity firm Advent (which claims a $1 billion budget dedicated to defense technology) alongside a JPMorganChase investment consortium.

Moreover, Shield AI has sold $500 million in preferred shares to funds administered by Blackstone and has also arranged a $250 million loan for future use. This financial influx is facilitating Shield’s acquisition of Aechelon Technology, a developer of flight simulation technology used for training U.S. military aviators. The specifics of that acquisition remain undisclosed.

This latest funding round follows Shield’s previous raise of $240 million, which granted it a $5.3 billion valuation in March 2025. This signifies a remarkable 140% increase in value over a single year. The impetus for this surge is clear: Shield AI’s Hivemind autonomy software was chosen in February to collaborate with the U.S. Air Force on its Collaborative Combat Aircraft drone prototype initiative.

In a noteworthy development, Shield’s software has been picked to complement competitor Anduril’s “Fury” autonomous fighter jet. Anduril possesses its own software, known as Lattice, which controls its Fury aircraft. However, the Air Force evidently desires to avoid reliance on a single vendor for its complete next-gen warfighter drone lineup.

Nonetheless, Anduril is unlikely to be significantly troubled by this sharing of the rewards. The company recently secured $2.5 billion at a $30.5 billion valuation in June, and rumors suggest it aims to raise up to $8 billion at a $60 billion valuation.

Other participants in Shield’s Series G funding round include Snowpoint Ventures, InnovationX, Riot Ventures, Disruptive, and Apandion.

The prevailing belief among security specialists for iPhones has been that uncovering vulnerabilities and crafting exploits for iOS is a challenging endeavor, necessitating substantial time, resources, and skilled teams of researchers to penetrate its security layers. Consequently, iPhone spyware and zero-day vulnerabilities, which remain unknown to the software vendor until they are exploited, were uncommon and typically employed in restricted and targeted attacks, as stated by Apple.

However, in the past month, cybersecurity analysts at Google, iVerify, and Lookout have identified several extensive hacking initiatives utilizing tools known as Coruna and DarkSword, which have been indiscriminately targeting victims globally who are not operating Apple’s latest software. Some of the individuals behind these breaches include Russian intelligence agents and Chinese hackers, who target their victims through compromised websites or counterfeit pages, potentially enabling them to extract information from numerous victims.

Currently, some of these tools have surfaced online, allowing anyone to utilize the code and easily execute their own attacks against Apple users on older iOS versions.

Apple has dedicated extensive resources to new security and development technologies, such as implementing memory-safe code in its latest iPhone models and introducing features like Lockdown Mode specifically designed to combat potential spyware threats. The aim has been to enhance the security of modern iPhones and bolster the assertion that the iPhone is exceptionally difficult to compromise.

Nevertheless, many older iPhones that remain in use are now more accessible targets for spyware-wielding spies and cybercriminals.

Currently, there exist essentially two categories of iPhone users.

Users operating the latest iOS 26 on the newest iPhone 17 models unveiled in 2025 benefit from a new security feature termed Memory Integrity Enforcement, designed to prevent memory corruption vulnerabilities, among the most frequently exploited weaknesses in spyware and phone unlocking operations. DarkSword significantly relied on these memory corruption vulnerabilities, as indicated by Google.

In contrast, there are iPhone users who continue to operate the preceding version of Apple’s mobile operating system, iOS 18, or even earlier iterations, which have previously been susceptible to memory-based hacks and other exploits.

The emergence of Coruna and DarkSword suggests that memory-based assaults may persist in troubling users of older iPhones and iPads that are lagging behind the newer, more memory-secure models.

Experts from iVerify and Lookout, two cybersecurity firms with a commercial interest in selling mobile security solutions, assert that Coruna and DarkSword may also challenge the long-standing belief that iPhone hacks are infrequent.

iVerify’s co-founder Matthias Frielingsdorf mentioned to TechCrunch that mobile assaults are now “widespread,” though he also indicated that attacks leveraging zero-days against the latest software versions “will always be charged at a premium rate,” suggesting that these are not intended for large-scale hacks.

Patrick Wardle, a security expert at Apple, pointed out that one issue is the tendency for individuals to label attacks on iPhones as rare or sophisticated simply because they are infrequently documented. The reality, he stated, is that these attacks may exist but are not always detected.

“Characterizing them as ‘highly advanced’ is akin to calling tanks or missiles advanced,” Wardle expressed to TechCrunch. “It’s accurate, but it overlooks the essential point. That’s merely the standard capability at that level, and all (most) nations possess them (or can acquire them for the appropriate cost).”

Another issue brought to light by Coruna and DarkSword is the apparent growth of a “second-hand” market, creating a financial incentive “for exploit developers and individual brokers to essentially receive compensation twice for the same exploit,” according to Justin Albrecht, principal researcher at Lookout.

Particularly when the initial exploit is patched, it becomes logical for brokers to resell it prior to universal updates.

“This is not a one-off occurrence, but rather an indication of future trends,” Albrecht remarked to TechCrunch.

On Thursday, Google revealed that it is rolling out its AI-driven conversational search feature, Search Live, worldwide across all languages and regions where AI Mode is accessible. This rollout will provide access to the feature for individuals in over 200 countries and territories, according to Google.

Initially introduced in July 2025, Search Live empowers users to aim their phone camera at items to receive instant support, facilitating interactive dialogues that leverage the visual context from the camera stream. Before this global rollout, Search Live was limited to the U.S. and India.

The expansion is made possible by Google’s latest audio and voice model, Gemini 3.1 Flash Live. This model enhances conversations to be more natural and intuitive, as stated by the tech giant.

To activate the feature, users must launch the Google app on Android or iOS and select the Live icon beneath the Search bar. From that point, they can verbally pose a question to receive an audio reply, followed by additional inquiries to continue the dialogue. Users also have the choice to delve deeper by browsing web links.

“Search Live is intended for those instances when you require immediate assistance, and typing out a question simply won’t suffice,” Google mentioned in a blog entry. “If you wish to inquire about something in front of you, like how to assemble a new shelving unit, you can activate your camera to provide visual context. This enables Search to see what your camera perceives and offer valuable suggestions, along with links to further information online.”

Google highlights that Search Live can also be accessed if you are already using Google Lens by selecting the “Live” option at the bottom of the display.

The tech powerhouse additionally announced that Google Translate’s “Live Translate” feature is coming to iOS. This function, which allows you to hear immediate translations in your headphones, is also being expanded to additional countries, including Germany, Spain, France, Nigeria, Italy, the United Kingdom, Japan, Bangladesh, and Thailand.

Google asserts that this expansion allows users on both Android and iOS to receive real-time translations on any headphones in over 70 languages.

This incident is one of those real-life situations from Silicon Valley that could easily be part of an HBO parody. This week, a truly dreadful piece of malware was found in an open source initiative created by LiteLLM, a graduate of Y Combinator.

LiteLLM allows developers to effortlessly access numerous AI models and offers functionalities like expense management. It has become a significant success, reportedly downloaded up to 3.4 million times daily, according to Snyk, one of the multiple security analysts observing the situation. The project had garnered 40K stars on GitHub and thousands of forks (those who utilized it as a foundation to modify and personalize it).

The malware was identified, recorded, and made public by research scientist Callum McMahon from FutureSearch, a company providing AI agents for online research. The malware infiltrated through a “dependency,” which refers to other open source software that LiteLLM depended on. It subsequently stole the login information of everything it encountered. With those credentials, the malware accessed more open source packages and accounts to gather additional credentials, and so forth.

The malware caused McMahon’s computer to crash after he downloaded LiteLLM. This event led him to explore and uncover it. Ironically, a flaw in the malware led his device to malfunction. Because of the careless design of that malicious code, both he and renowned AI researcher Andrej Karpathy concluded it must have been coded without proper care.

The LiteLLM team has been tirelessly addressing the issue this week, and the good news is that it was detected relatively quickly, probably within hours.

There’s an additional aspect to this story that users on X are eagerly discussing. As of March 25, when we checked, LiteLLM was still proudly advertising on its site that it has achieved two significant security compliance certifications, SOC2 and ISO 27001.

However, it utilized a startup named Delve for those certifications.

Delve is the Y Combinator AI-powered compliance startup that has faced accusations of deceiving its clients regarding their actual compliance status by allegedly creating fabricated data and employing auditors who merely approve reports. Delve has rejected these claims.

There is an aspect of nuance here that merits comprehension. Such certifications are meant to demonstrate that a company has robust security protocols established to reduce the likelihood of occurrences like this. Certifications do not inherently safeguard a company, like LiteLLM, from malware attacks. While SOC 2 is expected to address policies regarding software dependencies, malware can still infiltrate.

Nevertheless, as engineer Gergely Orosz remarked on X when he noticed individuals mocking it online, “Oh no, I thought this WAS a joke. … but no, LiteLLM *really* was ‘Secured by Delve.’”

Regarding LiteLLM, CEO Krrish Dholakia refrained from commenting on the use of Delve. He remains occupied rectifying the unfortunate situation from being a target of the attack.

“Our immediate focus is the ongoing investigation with Mandiant. We are dedicated to sharing the technical insights gained with the developer community once our forensic review is concluded,” he informed TechCrunch.

While OpenAI appears to be scaling back its activities in the video generation arena with the closure of its Sora app, ByteDance announced on Thursday that its latest audio and video model, Dreamina Seedance 2.0, is currently being deployed in its editing platform, CapCut.

According to ByteDance, the model enables creators to compose, refine, and synchronize video and audio content using prompts, images, or reference videos.

The gradual rollout will commence with CapCut users located in Brazil, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam, with additional markets to be included over time.

The announcement regarding the launch in CapCut comes after a recent report indicated that the model’s worldwide rollout would be halted while resolving intellectual property concerns that had prompted criticism from Hollywood regarding suspected copyright violations. This likely accounts for the limited number of regions where the model is presently accessible within CapCut.

In China, the model is available to users of ByteDance’s Jianying app.

The video generation model operates without the need for reference images; even a brief description using a few words from the creator is sufficient, stated ByteDance in its announcement. CapCut excels at producing realistic textures, motion, and lighting from various visual perspectives and angles, which the company claims can be utilized to edit, enhance, or rectify creators’ original footage.

Another potential application would involve creators experimenting with possible ideas grounded in early concepts or drafts prior to filming the actual video.

Moreover, Dreamina Seedance 2.0 can cater to a broad spectrum of content types, including cooking recipes, fitness tutorials, business or product presentations, and action-intensive videos, where AI video models have traditionally encountered difficulties, according to the company.

Upon launch, the model accommodates clips lasting up to 15 seconds across six different aspect ratios.

In CapCut, the model will be introduced across various functionalities, encompassing editing tools like AI Video and content generation features such as Video Studio. It will also be incorporated into ByteDance’s AI generation platform, Dreamina, and its marketing hub, Pippit.

Considering its potential to produce realistic content, ByteDance has implemented safety measures to ensure the model cannot generate videos from images or videos containing actual faces. CapCut will also prohibit the unauthorized creation of intellectual property. (Nevertheless, if the safeguards were functioning effectively, the model would currently be available in the United States, suggesting that further adjustments might still be underway.)

The output created by Dreamina Seedance 2.0 will feature an unobtrusive watermark, which will assist in identifying content generated with the model when shared externally, ByteDance elucidated. This could facilitate actions such as takedown requests from rights holders should the model produce copyrighted material.

ByteDance stated that it plans to collaborate with professionals and creative communities as the model is launched to enhance and refine its functionalities.

In the fast-paced world of startups, securing a dependable team is essential for early-stage ventures. In this episode of Build Mode, Isabelle Johannessen converses with Isaiah Granet, the CEO and co-founder of Bland, a voice AI firm that ascended from pre-seed to Series B within a mere 10 months. Their workforce has expanded to 75 individuals, and Granet shares strategic insights on how the company uncovered hidden talent in unexpected arenas. 

With a founding team straight out of academia, Bland’s initial hires were chosen based on their enthusiasm rather than their backgrounds. 

“We spent a considerable amount of time searching for our founding engineer. The candidate we ultimately chose had only a few months of experience at an insurance firm in Iowa. Before that, he managed a Taco Bell, and prior to that, he worked on a factory floor,” Granet shared with Build Mode, noting that they discovered him via his GitHub profile. 

“What impressed me wasn’t his technical skills,” Granet remarked. “We probed him about his hobbies, and I’ve never seen someone grin so broadly. He replied, ‘I enjoy shipping code.’”

Following that hire, Bland began to prioritize individuals who were fervently dedicated to their interests and as dynamic as the company itself. The team now includes philosophy majors and beekeepers, all from outside the conventional tech landscape. 

“There are individuals who possess experiences that might not shine on résumés, but are incredibly fascinating. It highlights a level of dedication, which can be applied to any field,” Granet noted.

As the company has expanded over the past year, the leadership team has had to master not only the hiring process but also keeping the team engaged and satisfied. In the episode, Granet elaborates on how Bland established a fair compensation model and made sure all initial hires were clear about their equity. 

However, this recruitment strategy does come with challenges, he mentioned. Inexperienced scrappy talent often requires time to acclimate to their roles, which necessitates adjustments by the company. 

Bland believes that if extra resources are allocated to an employee, then that employee should reciprocate by investing effort into the company. “If outcomes aren’t being produced, we expect you to be at the office six days a week, 12 hours each day,” Granet stated. 

This hiring approach can also pose difficulties in scaling, particularly given Bland’s rapid growth. Granet explained that the co-founders maintain a very hands-on approach with the team to ensure they reach the high-performance levels needed. 

The founding team can significantly influence the fate of an early-stage startup, and Bland’s distinctive hiring practices alongside its remarkable growth illustrate the advantage of accessing unique talent. “For the most part, I believe early-stage startup founders should trust their instincts and everyone will develop their own effective hiring methods,” Granet concluded.

Apply to Startup Battlefield: We are seeking early-stage companies with an MVP. Nominate a founder (or yourself), mentioning you learned about Startup Battlefield through the Build Mode podcast. Submit your application here.  

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Isabelle Johannessen serves as our host. Build Mode is produced and edited by Maggie Nye. Audience Development is managed by Morgan Little. Special gratitude to the Foundry and Cheddar video teams.