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Welcome to Startup Strategist. It's Friday, and we hope today's topics will interest you.

Estimated read time: 3-5 minutes

• Presented by: Gamma - A new medium for presenting ideas, powered by AI

• News stories: (1) Humanoid startup raises capital, (2) This week’s biggest funding rounds.

• Startup info: How to learn from future customers

• Resources: (1) Sam Altman on iteration speed when building a startup, (2) Thinking from first principles - Elon Musk, (3) “One person businesses” generating millions

• StratupAI Generated Idea: AI-powered recruitment platform

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News

1) AI Startup Making Humanoid Robots Raises $675 Million With Bezos, Nvidia in Funding Round (WSJ)

The startup, Figure, can “move boxes onto a conveyer belt”, and has signed an agreement with BMW (WSJ).

More broadly, the journalist notes $29B was invested in generative AI in 2023 (Pitchbook).

2) The Week’s 10 Biggest Funding Rounds (Crunchbase)

Figure, Ascend, and Abridge top the list, and the industries include artificial intelligence, batteries, and healthcare respectively.

Before we continue, here's a quick one-question poll to gauge interest in our upcoming ebook.

How to learn about/from your customers

From The Four Steps to Epiphany, 2005, by Steve Blank (Widely regarded as 'the founding father of modern entrepreneurship' - Forbes)

“Start by making a list of fifty potential customers you can test your ideas own. From friends, investors, founders, lawyers, recruiters, trade magazines, accountants, and any other source you can think of.”

“What matters is you learn from them.”

“Keep in mind that the goal of this initial flurry of calling is not only to meet with people whose names you collect but to use these customer contacts to network your way up the food-chain of expertise.”

“Always keep asking your contacts, ‘who’s the smartest person you know?’”

Resources

1) Sam Altman on iteration speed when building a startup https://x.com/startuparchive_/status/1762148032689078505?s=46&t=DKhL8uejtSrZb3pqPpdhcA

2) Thinking from first principles, Elon Musk: https://youtu.be/NV3sBlRgzTI?si=M8FQ4u7BSNLfNxI-

3) “One person businesses” generating millions: https://x.com/volodarik/status/1755347974492737574?s=20

StratupAI Generated Idea

Predictive Maintenance SaaS for Manufacturing

“This software would leverage IoT sensors, data analytics, and machine learning algorithms to monitor equipment health, predict maintenance needs, schedule proactive repairs, and prevent unexpected breakdowns. By implementing predictive maintenance software, factories can improve operational reliability, extend the lifespan of machinery, reduce maintenance costs, and enhance overall productivity.”

-Stratupai

Disclaimer: The startup ideas shared in this forum are offered for general consideration and discussion. Individuals utilizing these concepts are encouraged to exercise independent judgment and undertake due diligence per legal and regulatory requirements.

That’s all for today, thanks for reading. See you on Tuesday. Let us know if you enjoyed this edition or not in the one click poll below, we appreciate any feedback.

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The startup ideas, strategies, and suggestions shared in this forum are provided for general discussion and informational purposes only. Any individual or entity considering implementing these concepts should exercise independent judgment and conduct thorough due diligence in accordance with legal, regulatory, and industry-specific requirements. Startup Strategist does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or suitability of any information shared. It is recommended to consult with legal, financial, and other relevant professionals before proceeding with any business ventures or decisions.